Things I want to do after Surgery!

Feb 20, 2007





THINGS I WANT TO DO AFTER SURGERY!
1). To be healthy! No more pain, No high blood pressure, No more meds HEALTHY! Done 3/25/04
2). To exercise, walk, run, swim and just live again Done 6/11/04
3). To shop in a regular clothing store & get things off the clearence racks Done 7/30/04
4). To wear Bra's & Panties that match & don't look like my mom's Done 6/13/04
5). To cross my legs Done 11/26/04
6). To be able to bend down without throwing my back out or my knees blowing out! Done 3/29/04
7). To be able to fit in resteraunt booths! Done 5/31/04
8). To go out in public & not be stared at like I am going to crush someone Done 7/01/04
9). To walk on the beach again! Done 5/31/04
10). To ride on a roller coaster
again Done 8/15/05
11). To sit in the movie theater seats
Done 10/15/04
12). Learn how to surf, Ski water & snow & snow board
13). Go rock climbing

14). Go to all the beautiful scenic places we have here in VA Done 08/02/04
15). To never hear again "you are pretty, If you would only lose weight!" Done 12/15/04
16). To accually like having my picture taken Done 08/05/04
17). To buy and wear a swim suit and look good Done 06/30/04
18). To not be embarrassed to go out in public Done 4/21/04
19). Learn how to roller blade

20). To not be the biggest person in the family Done 7/01/04
21). To have energy! Done 3/29/04
22). To get on an elevator W/out people looking terrified Done 07/30/04
23). To wear high heels
again Done 7/02/04
24). To wear a thong & not have it disappear! Done 5/31/04
25). To wear my seat belt Done 6/11/04
26). To have my husband fit both arms around me when he hugs me Done 4/21/04
27). To wear sexy lingerie & accually look sexy. Done 7/02/04
28). To go back to work again Done 7/21/04
29). To not be scared of the scale Done 3/25/04
30). To go to a water park & finally get on a water slide

31). To be able to ride in my husband's Big Truck
Done 4/16/04

32). To ride on a jet ski

33). To ride on a motorcycle Done 5/27/06
34). To be below 300 Lbs Done 3/31/04
35). To be below 275 Lbs Done 5/19/04
36). To be below 250 Lbs Done 7/21/04
37). To be below 200 Lbs Done 1/19/05
38). To be below 175 Lbs Done 9/21/06 but have gained back 15 pounds but I'm going to lose it!
39). To be at my goal of 150 Lbs
40). To no longer be Super Obese BMI over 50 Done 4/30/04
41). To no longer be Morbidly Obese BMI 40.0-50 Done 9/19/04
42). To no longer be Severly Obese BMI 35.0-39.9 Done 1/19/05
43). To no longer be Obese BMI 30.0-34.9 Done 9/21/06
44). To no longer be overweight BMI 25.0-29.9
45). To be Normal? What is normal anyway BMI 18.5-24.9



LINKS:

Coastal Surgical

FitDay Nutritional Guide



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(Note: don't put " or ' marks in the spaces above.)
How much do you weigh?pounds

 

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1/3/04 - 11/24/04

Feb 20, 2007


*2004*


 

1/03/04 Hey Everyone. 2004 can you believe it? I can't; seems like yesterday we were celebrating 2000. I got a call from the surgeons office yesterday with my pre-op testing appt.. It is going to be Tues January 20. I have to be at the Hosp at 7am. Nothing to eat or drink after 12 midnight. The strange thing is. I am only having an ultrasound of my stomach a mamogram and an appt with the nutritionist?? I asked about all the other test and she said that was going to be it? WHAT? WHAT ABOUT BLOOD WORK, EKG, PULMONARY FUNCTION, CT SCAN, UPPER GI, ENDOSCOPY, X-RAY OF THE CHEST? I don't understand. I am going to ask my PCP what he thinks and if he can get these test done for me. I will not have this done if I am not positive they know everything there is to know about my health. I had everything but the upper gi, endoscopy, & pulmonary function test back in Aug. But they said they are no good after 3 months? I am a bit worried now. I am going to call somebody Monday. I will update then. 1/07/04 I just got off the phone with Katie Dr. Browns Head Nurse and she informed me that I will be having all the Pre-Op test's and she will give me the order to have them done when I go in there on 3/4/04. She said I am not going to get out of them that easy.. Well that makes me feel much much better. Katie is a sweetheart. I have bugged her so much and she told me that if I needed anything else to please call. I know I have been a headache. This Surgeon and the office personel are so very nice I know I made the right choice when I picked them.. will update later Peace.1/10/04 I HAVE AN ANGEL! Her name is Jeanette Jones and she is really sweet. She is going to go into the chat room's and update everyone on my progress while in the hospital. She told me that if I have any question's to ask her and if she didn't know the answer she would find out for me. That is great. I have some Pre-Op test's on tuesday 1/20/04 I have to be at the hospital at 7am. That is early. Well I will update later. Peace1/16/04 Hey everybody, I just found out that my Angel Jeanette's Birthday is on the same day as my surgery March 19th. That is so weird. She was meant to be My Angel. This has to be a good sign. My Friend Sherri went to her consultation yesterday and she had to watch a movie for 2 hrs and then the surgeon drew purple marks on her stomach to show her how and were the incisions would be. She should be having surgery in February. WAY TO GO SHERRI! Well I am going to close for now. Peace. 1/21/04 I just wanted to post today because yesterday I had to go for some of my Post-Op test's. My GallBladder is fine and so are my boobies. I met with the nutritionist. Chantaye is really sweet she also does the meetings every month so I knew her before. I have the life insurance company coming tomorrow for a physical for the policy. I am so ready for this surgery. I will update later. Peace1/26/04 I got a letter in the mail Saturday from the hospital saying that my mamogram was inconclusive and I need to come in for another one. WHAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I am REALLY scared. I am going to get on the messege board and ask if this has happened to anyone else? Is this going to stop my surgery? What if there is something wrong with my boob's? I haven't been able to sleep very good because of this. I finally passed out Sunday morn around 4am and here I am at 5am still up and shaking in my slippers. I don't think there is breast cancer in my family. HA 1 thing that my family doesn't have. go figure. I am going to scream! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH1/27/04 I got up this morning at 8am to make breakfast for Chris, at 9am I called Dr. Brown's office to see about rescheduling another mamogram. Katie informed me that I was scheduled at 9:45 this morn for one. I ran to the hospital and made it with 15 min's to spare. They took another mamogram and that one also came back with a mass on it. I seen it! It looked like a marble in my left boob. So they took an ultrasound and I won't hear anything for 3 days. If they aren't happy with that one I will have to have a biopsy. When did this surgery turn into a breast problem? I just want to be healthy! Someone slap me and wake me up PLEASE! I am going to go nuts. FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO SO RUDELY SAY THIS IS THE EASY WAY OUT, THEY ARE OUT OF THEIR MINDS!! 1/29/04 I just got off the phone with Katie, My surgeons assistant. She said the ultrasound came back and they think it is just a swollen lymph node. They will be doing a breast exam in the office to be sure. Thank you God. Prayers do get answered. Pastor Hundley and Everyone Who Prayed for me THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Katie is such a sweetheart. With all she has to do she still took time to call me and answer my question's. She could have been really mean to me because I have been a real pest but she was nothing but nice. What ever she is getting paid it isn't nearly enough. Blessed Be....2/01/03 HELLO FEBRUARY! I am so tired of the cold weather. I want spring to hurry up and come. Well 6 weeks and 5 days from today I will be in surgery. WOO HOO! Tomorrow is GroundHog day I sure hope he doesn't see his shadow. If he does that means 6 more weeks of winter. PLEASE LET IT BE CLOUDY!! LOL2/02/04 Well the groundhog seen his shadow so we will have 6 more weeks of winter. Oh No! I am tired of the cold weather. Let there be Spring. 6 weeks and 4 days more and I will be having surgery.. Yeee Haww!! 2/10/04 Today was a wonderful day my good friends Melinda & April got great news. Melinda's PCP is going to give her the letter she needs saying that the surgery is medically necessary. April got word today that she is approved. She should be having her surgery February 26th. WOO-HOO YOU GO GIRL'S. CONGRATULATIONS!!2/14/04 Happy Valentines Day! Today was a beautiful day. My husband and I went to Captain George's for dinner and then we went walking in the mall. We bought a new vacuum which we needed very badly and a scale for me. We had a great time. I have lost 9 pounds somewhere. I have been eating everything in sight getting ready for this surgery and I lose weight?? I don't get it. I try to diet and I gain and I eat everything and lose. Maybe I should have done this a long time ago..lol On another note My good friend Sherri got another denial today. She is very sad & upset. I am so very hurt and sad that this has happened to her yet again. I can not understand why Wal-Mart's insurance is doing this to her. 2/21/04 WOW! less than a month to go.. 27 days 21 hours to be exact.. lol I went out yesterday and got my broth, SF Jello, Protein drink's and SF Popsicles. My Hospital bag has been packed for 2 months now, LOL. I am ready for my new life, Or as they call it here at OH my Re-birthday. I have been doing weight lifting for my arms so that I will be able to move myself around without using my stomach muscle's after surgery. I went last night and got my Cocoa butter vit E and aloe lotion for my incisions. So the scaring will be minimal. I am ret to go..lol My emotions are still crazy. I have written all my GoodBye letter's just in case I don't make it out of this alive. Talk about emotional. I think they all have tear stain's on them. But I wanted to let those know how much they have meant to me, that I love them and I really wanted to do this surgery to help my health. I also put in them that if I die doing it then I died doing what I wanted and to not be sad for me. Well April had her pre-op's on thurs and she has her surgery on February 26th. Way to go April and congrat's you will be in my prayers. I will update later. Peace2/25/04 OMG! It is getting so close so fast.. I wanted to post today because I have wonderful news. I HAVE THE BEST ANGEL IN THE WORLD. HIS NAME IS TRACK. Yes I said HIS. He lives here in the area and even goes to the same group meetings as me. He is a wonderful person. I got on today and my e-mail was bombed by all the well wishes from people. He had sent out a msg for everyone to sign my surgery page. He really has been working it for me. I am so glad he was sent to me. He also has been thru this and has done so very very well. check out his profile. He had surgery on Nov 10th and has already lost over 112 pounds. That is freakin wonderful. April is having surgery tomorrow. Here is her Profile please sign her surgery page for me. I got some bad news the other night my aunt passed away. She was 76 and had alot of problems. I think she just gave up because she had told my Dad that she was tired. Well I will update again soon. Peace3/07/04 Hey everyone, I just wanted to tell you what I have been doing. On Thursday I went to see my surgeon Dr. Brown. She likes to see you before surgery to see how you are feeling, make sure you aren't sick and to give you the pre-op instructions. I have to be at Leigh Hospital at 7am on Tuesday 3/9. For Pre-op tests. That is EARLY. I have a chest X-ray, Blood work and an EKG that I have to have done. Nothing else! WOO HOO I sure lucked out. I don't have to do a bowel prep or wash with antibacterial soap. But to be on the safe side I am going to do it anyway. Well I am going to close for now. I will update soon. Only 12 more day's. OMG!! ONLY 12 MORE DAYS.. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME. Blessed be! 3/11/04 I am on my way to take my husband to emergency surgery. He has a bad hernia. He is really scared. He, like me has never had surgery and is scared. I told him that is normal. I wouldn't have known that or how to calm him if it weren't for this site and the chat room. This is a great site for surgery info. Prayers for my hubby. Blessed Be3/14/04 Well today makes only 5 days and a wake up and I will be a big loser. Chris is doing better he has been in alot of pain since his surgery. He did get up and walk a little today. I can't wait for my day. I am so very excited. Well I will be measureing and Weighting myself later today. Peace3/18/04 Hey everyone! Well my big day is tomorrow. I am busy today doing the dreaded bowel prep. Running running trotting sqeezing the cheeks. you get the idea. For those who have to drink that awful stuff. I have found that if you get it real cold {ie} the freezer and add some sugar it isn't to bad. It is still not the greatest but I could get it down. I am not scared any longer just really excited and ready to get this over with. I want to thank everyone who has been my strength and friend and has been there for a shoulder to cry on or bitch at..lol My angels Track, Sherri, April & Barry. You are so very beautiful and I love each of you for your kindness. Melinda the angel pin is oh so special to me I will have it with me till they pry it out of my hands. You are a wonderful friend and I will be here for you when it is your turn. I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WAS EVER GOING TO GET HERE! Chris my hubby you are my rock and you have put up with alot of my emotions the last few months. I love you all. From this day forward I am going to be a big post-op LOSER!!

 

1/27/04 I got up this morning at
1/03/04 Hey Everyone. 2004 can you believe it? I can't; seems like yesterday we were celebrating 2000. I got a call from the surgeons office yesterday with my pre-op testing appt.. It is going to be Tues January 20. I have to be at the Hosp at 7am. Nothing to eat or drink after 12 midnight. The strange thing is. I am only having an ultrasound of my stomach a mamogram and an appt with the nutritionist?? I asked about all the other test and she said that was going to be it? WHAT? WHAT ABOUT BLOOD WORK, EKG, PULMONARY FUNCTION, CT SCAN, UPPER GI, ENDOSCOPY, X-RAY OF THE CHEST? I don't understand. I am going to ask my PCP what he thinks and if he can get these test done for me. I will not have this done if I am not positive they know everything there is to know about my health. I had everything but the upper gi, endoscopy, & pulmonary function test back in Aug. But they said they are no good after 3 months? I am a bit worried now. I am going to call somebody Monday. I will update then.





1/07/04 I just got off the phone with Katie Dr. Browns Head Nurse and she informed me that I will be having all the Pre-Op test's and she will give me the order to have them done when I go in there on 3/4/04. She said I am not going to get out of them that easy.. Well that makes me feel much much better. Katie is a sweetheart. I have bugged her so much and she told me that if I needed anything else to please call. I know I have been a headache. This Surgeon and the office personel are so very nice I know I made the right choice when I picked them.. will update later Peace.





1/10/04 I HAVE AN ANGEL! Her name is Jeanette Jones and she is really sweet. She is going to go into the chat room's and update everyone on my progress while in the hospital. She told me that if I have any question's to ask her and if she didn't know the answer she would find out for me. That is great. I have some Pre-Op test's on tuesday 1/20/04 I have to be at the hospital at 7am. That is early. Well I will update later. Peace





1/16/04 Hey everybody, I just found out that my Angel Jeanette's Birthday is on the same day as my surgery March 19th. That is so weird. She was meant to be My Angel. This has to be a good sign. My Friend Sherri went to her consultation yesterday and she had to watch a movie for 2 hrs and then the surgeon drew purple marks on her stomach to show her how and were the incisions would be. She should be having surgery in February. WAY TO GO SHERRI! Well I am going to close for now. Peace.





1/21/04 I just wanted to post today because yesterday I had to go for some of my Post-Op test's. My GallBladder is fine and so are my boobies. I met with the nutritionist. Chantaye is really sweet she also does the meetings every month so I knew her before. I have the life insurance company coming tomorrow for a physical for the policy. I am so ready for this surgery. I will update later. Peace


1/26/04 I got a letter in the mail Saturday from the hospital saying that my mamogram was inconclusive and I need to come in for another one. WHAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I am REALLY scared. I am going to get on the messege board and ask if this has happened to anyone else? Is this going to stop my surgery? What if there is something wrong with my boob's? I haven't been able to sleep very good because of this. I finally passed out Sunday morn around 4am and here I am at 5am still up and shaking in my slippers. I don't think there is breast cancer in my family. HA 1 thing that my family doesn't have. go figure. I am going to scream! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH


8am to make breakfast for Chris, at 9am I called Dr. Brown's office to see about rescheduling another mamogram. Katie informed me that I was scheduled at 9:45 this morn for one. I ran to the hospital and made it with 15 min's to spare. They took another mamogram and that one also came back with a mass on it. I seen it! It looked like a marble in my left boob. So they took an ultrasound and I won't hear anything for 3 days. If they aren't happy with that one I will have to have a biopsy. When did this surgery turn into a breast problem? I just want to be healthy! Someone slap me and wake me up PLEASE! I am going to go nuts. FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO SO RUDELY SAY THIS IS THE EASY WAY OUT, THEY ARE OUT OF THEIR MINDS!!

1/29/04 I just got off the phone with Katie, My surgeons assistant. She said the ultrasound came back and they think it is just a swollen lymph node. They will be doing a breast exam in the office to be sure. Thank you God. Prayers do get answered. Pastor Hundley and Everyone Who Prayed for me THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Katie is such a sweetheart. With all she has to do she still took time to call me and answer my question's. She could have been really mean to me because I have been a real pest but she was nothing but nice. What ever she is getting paid it isn't nearly enough. Blessed Be....




2/01/03 HELLO FEBRUARY! I am so tired of the cold weather. I want spring to hurry up and come. Well 6 weeks and 5 days from today I will be in surgery. WOO HOO! Tomorrow is GroundHog day I sure hope he doesn't see his shadow. If he does that means 6 more weeks of winter. PLEASE LET IT BE CLOUDY!! LOL



2/02/04 Well the groundhog seen his shadow so we will have 6 more weeks of winter. Oh No! I am tired of the cold weather. Let there be Spring. 6 weeks and 4 days more and I will be having surgery.. Yeee Haww!!





2/10/04 Today was a wonderful day my good friends Melinda & April got great news. Melinda's PCP is going to give her the letter she needs saying that the surgery is medically necessary. April got word today that she is approved. She should be having her surgery February 26th. WOO-HOO YOU GO GIRL'S. CONGRATULATIONS!!





2/14/04 Happy Valentines Day! Today was a beautiful day. My husband and I went to Captain George's for dinner and then we went walking in the mall. We bought a new vacuum which we needed very badly and a scale for me. We had a great time. I have lost 9 pounds somewhere. I have been eating everything in sight getting ready for this surgery and I lose weight?? I don't get it. I try to diet and I gain and I eat everything and lose. Maybe I should have done this a long time ago..lol On another note My good friend Sherri got another denial today. She is very sad & upset. I am so very hurt and sad that this has happened to her yet again. I can not understand why Wal-Mart's insurance is doing this to her.





2/21/04 WOW! less than a month to go.. 27 days 21 hours to be exact.. lol I went out yesterday and got my broth, SF Jello, Protein drink's and SF Popsicles. My Hospital bag has been packed for 2 months now, LOL. I am ready for my new life, Or as they call it here at OH my Re-birthday. I have been doing weight lifting
for my arms so that I will be able to move myself around without using my stomach muscle's after surgery. I went last night and got my Cocoa butter vit E and aloe lotion for my incisions. So the scaring will be minimal. I am ret to go..lol My emotions are still crazy. I have written all my GoodBye letter's just in case I don't make it out of this alive. Talk about emotional. I think they all have tear stain's on them. But I wanted to let those know how much they have meant to me, that I love them and I really wanted to do this surgery to help my health. I also put in them that if I die doing it then I died doing what I wanted and to not be sad for me. Well April had her pre-op's on thurs and she has her surgery on February 26th. Way to go April and congrat's you will be in my prayers. I will update later. Peace





2/25/04 OMG! It is getting so close so fast.. I wanted to post today because I have wonderful news. I HAVE THE BEST ANGEL IN THE WORLD. HIS NAME IS TRACK. Yes I said HIS. He lives here in the area and even goes to the same group meetings as me. He is a wonderful person. I got on today and my e-mail was bombed by all the well wishes from people. He had sent out a msg for everyone to sign my surgery page. He really has been working it for me. I am so glad he was sent to me. He also has been thru this and has done so very very well. check out his profile.
Track's Profile He had surgery on Nov 10th and has already lost over 112 pounds. That is freakin wonderful. April is having surgery tomorrow. Here is her Profile please sign her surgery page for me.April's Profile I got some bad news the other night my aunt passed away. She was 76 and had alot of problems. I think she just gave up because she had told my Dad that she was tired. Well I will update again soon. Peace







3/07/04 Hey everyone, I just wanted to tell you what I have been doing. On Thursday I went to see my surgeon Dr. Brown. She likes to see you before surgery to see how you are feeling, make sure you aren't sick and to give you the pre-op instructions. I have to be at Leigh Hospital at 7am on Tuesday 3/9. For Pre-op tests. That is EARLY. I have a chest X-ray, Blood work and an EKG that I have to have done. Nothing else! WOO HOO I sure lucked out. I don't have to do a bowel prep or wash with antibacterial soap. But to be on the safe side I am going to do it anyway. Well I am going to close for now. I will update soon. Only 12 more day's. OMG!! ONLY 12 MORE DAYS.. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME. Blessed be!





3/11/04 I am on my way to take my husband to emergency surgery. He has a bad hernia. He is really scared. He, like me has never had surgery and is scared. I told him that is normal. I wouldn't have known that or how to calm him if it weren't for this site and the chat room. This is a great site for surgery info. Prayers for my hubby. Blessed Be





3/14/04 Well today makes only 5 days and a wake up and I will be a big loser. Chris is doing better he has been in alot of pain since his surgery. He did get up and walk a little today. I can't wait for my day. I am so very excited. Well I will be measureing and Weighting myself later today. Peace





3/18/04 Hey everyone! Well my big day is tomorrow. I am busy today doing the dreaded bowel prep. Running running trotting sqeezing the cheeks. you get the idea. For those who have to drink that awful stuff. I have found that if you get it real cold {ie} the freezer and add some sugar it isn't to bad. It is still not the greatest but I could get it down. I am not scared any longer just really excited and ready to get this over with. I want to thank everyone who has been my strength and friend and has been there for a shoulder to cry on or bitch at..lol My angels Track, Sherri, April & Barry. You are so very beautiful and I love each of you for your kindness. Melinda the angel pin
is oh so special to me I will have it with me till they pry it out of my hands. You are a wonderful friend and I will be here for you when it is your turn. I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WAS EVER GOING TO GET HERE! Chris my hubby you are my rock and you have put up with alot of my emotions the last few months. I love you all. From this day forward I am going to be a big post-op LOSER!!





POST-OP





Things you might need to take to the hospital:
1). Small personal fan. Like a desk fan. This was my best friend.
2). Chapstick
3). Loose fitting gown
4). Nice robe for walking in
5). Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Shampoo, Conditioner
6). Soap for washing I didn't like there's it dried out my skin and made it itch
7). Hairbrush
8). Slippers
9). Lotion
10). Walkman to drown out the noises
11). Magazine or a good book
12). Back Scratcher the morphine will make you itch like a dog
13). Baby wipes to help clean up


 

 



HELLO EVERYONE I MADE IT THRU! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND WELL WISHES.


 

3/25/04 I will be posting every detail of what happened just as soon as I feel better. I have been having some trouble. I was throwing up everything. Even water. Couldn't even take my pain meds. I called the surgeon thinking it was my Med making me sick and she phoned in a diff one. That wasn't the problem. The pain {felt like something trying to break through my chest} was aweful and I was getting so weak. I called the surgeon today and she told me to go right to the hospital for another leak test and sonagram to look for a leak or blockage. The test came back fine everything looked great. So she wants to see me today in her office at 11am. I came home and went to bed for about 2 hours. I woke up and came out into the kitchen to sit with my hubby while he ate a whopper. MMMMM I just wanted to sniff the paper {yes just like the commercial} Not cool..lol So I asked him to make me a little oatmeal and I was going to try to eat one more time. A glutton for punishment. After just 2 bites I immediately felt better the pain Was gone and I stopped puking? I have since found out that if I don't feed this thing every 2 hours or keep it full I get really sick and the pain is terrible? I will be asking the surgeon today about this? Doesn't sound right. Well anywho. God Bless you all. Peace3/26/04 Hello Beautiful Life. I am down 15 pounds.. I am going to walk you thru my surgery experience. I got up on Friday at 9am.. Well the alarm was set for 9am.. I was up all night..lol I took my shower at 9am and washed with the antibacterial soap. When my hubby got up I had him take some before pictures of me with the polaroid camera I wanted some naked ones to put in a scrapbook for myself. Of course chris wanted some naked ones for his own..lol Men. I then tried to wake my Daughter up and she was too tired so me and Chris got my Hosp. Bag and left. I drove and smiled the whole way.. I got to the hospital at 10:30am and checked in. They told me to go to the day surgery room and sign in. They then told me to sit down and wait. My wonderful friend Barry was already sitting there waiting on me..lol I sat down for maybe 10 min's and talked to Barry and My hubby took Pictures of us and they called me to go back. Chris went with me. they told him to go and wait in my room while they checked me in. They then asked me to verify my name, Social security # and what I was having done. They took my blood pressure and it was a little up but they said it was because I was so excited to be there.. lol OK. They weighed me 317 Lbs Then they took me to the room. There they told me to get undressed and take off everything I didn't come into this world with..lol They gave me a big gown to put on thank you nothing worse than those things being to darn small. I got into the bed and they put my I.V. in. I really started to get scared then. I laid there with Chris beside me and cried. I was in there for about 30 mins. they came and wheeled me to the surgical holding Chris kissed me and told me he will love me forever. I cried all the way there. When I got in there 2 Nurses came over to talk to me and made me verify everything again. They also asked me if I was sure I was ready. Because I was crying. I said yes! I have been waiting for over 3 years. I am just scared. When am I going to get my margarita cocktail?? lol They said after the anesthisiologist talks to me. OK! He came and talked to me asked me to verify all the info again asked if I had ever been put under before and if there was a problem with it before. He then explained what was going to happen and gave me my margarita. I was still crying and he had to give me a second. I have always been a big drinker..lol After that second one WOW I felt good..lol I started humming songs..lol they came in at 1:15 and told me that Dr. Brown had an emergency and was going to be a little late.. What? Oh well I am feeling no pain..lol I asked them to call and tell chris in the waiting room so he wouldn't worry. they came and got me at 2:10pm. They put the designer hat on and rolled me into the operating room. They had me scoot over onto the table. Brrrr cold. and Very very bright I needed sun glasses. They hooked me up to the heart monitor put a blood pressure cup on my arm and the finger thing for the oxygen level's. They put the massaging boots on for my circulation. They said Sweet dreams and I don't remember anything else until I woke up in the recovery room.OMG!! The pain was extreme. I wimpered and that was it Morphine heaven. No more pain. I asked about the surgery if there were any complications and they said no everything went great. I looked down at my stomach likeit was going to be smaller?? LOL I asked if Chris new and they said yes. I was wheeled to my room and Chris, My Daughter Tabatha and my son T.J. were there waiting for me with flowers, balloons and animals. awwww. I was in no real pain at this point and I even wanted to get up and walk. They said no. The next day I started having alot of gas pain OMG!! this is worse than being cut on. I could not get comfortable so I asked if I could please walk and they said ok. That helped some. The next day they came in to take out the drain tube. OMG! This is the weirdest feeling i have ever experienced. Like something is crawling around inside you and the Nurse said on 3 take a deep breath. 1. 2. 3. OMG!! BIG OUCHIE. Then the pain was all gone. That drain tube is what was causing all my pain. Much Much better. The Next day I Went down to have my leak test done and it was fine so they let me go home. So that is what happened and It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I will update later. Bye. 3/30/04 Hello everyone, I have been doing alot of spring cleaning. I have so much energy since surgery I am going crazy doing things. I love it. Not in any pain now. I feel like I am eating way too much though. I am eating 4 oz's every 2-4 hours Dr. Brown says that is ok. She said eating that often is better for you because it boost your matabolisum. OK? She is the surgeon. I feel absolutley wonderful. My hips and Back don't hurt as bad and I am off my blood pressure meds. I have been doing alot of walking and low impact arobics. Life couldn't be any more sweet. As far as the amount that I was suppose to pay ie. The co-pay 20%. I will be billed for it. God is Great. Peace4/02/04 Hey everyone! Today is the 2 week mark since surgery. I am down 19 pounds. I am below 300 now WOO-HOO!! I am doing great. I haven't found anything I can't eat yet. I am still taking it easy though not pushing it yet. I tried some wendy's chili and ate 1/2 a small and it was wonderful. The weight just seems to be melting off. Chris says he can see a difference in my belly and butt. lol I will be taking pic's next week and sending them out in a mass e-mail. The scale moves almost every day. The scale is a friend now and not my enemy any longer. I accually like getting on the scale now..lol I walk everyday. I use my treadmill like I use to use my mouth..lol I feel like a new person and each day is getting better. This Surgery is the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I wish I would have done it sooner. I am sure I will still have my good days and bad but for now I am enjoying my life and Thank God Every Day for it. Peace4/11/04 Happy Easter! I am 3 weeks out and down 25 Pounds. I feel great. I finally started getting that full feeling. I was getting scared it wouldn't happen for me. I guess the nerve endings in my new pouch had to heal. That would make since huh?? DUH! I still haven't found anything that makes me sick yet. Not even sugar. I was hoping it would. I am being real careful though not trying to much sugar just a little so far and nothing has happened. I like the splenda anyway. I have so much energy, I have been spring cleaning everything. lol I LOVE THIS NEW LIFE! I just wish I could have done this years ago. Now I will say it does take some getting use to and I do have my good days and bad. I think on some days I am even mourning food a little. but nothing can compare to the way I feel. No pain and so much energy. This is great! Tomorrow is my 42nd birthday. I refuse to turn a day older than 35..lol I will update later. Peace4/16/04 Hey everybody, everybody hey! Today is the 4 week mark since surgery. I feel wonderful. My clothes are fitting me better and I can even get into some things that I never thought I would ever get back into. YEE HAW! It is like having brand new clothes. As a matter of fact some of the things were brand new I never got to wear them. I was measuring and taking pic's every week up until the 4 week mark. Now I am only going to measure and take pic's every month. I hope this really helps those of you that are just starting out in your journey to the losing side. I will tell you this. The gas pains after surgery are a real killer. That was really the only real pain I experienced after the first wake up after surgery. The drain tube being pulled out of me was a relief. I was so full of gas that the tube being out gave it a little more room and that made a big difference. So be expecting the gas people. I had a wonderful birthday. My oldest daughter came over and brought me some lillies a balloon some cookies and a card.. She is so very thoughtful. I am now 42, However I am turning it around so I am really 24.. LOL I will update later. Peace4/23/04 Hello one and all. I am now down 31 pounds. I have found Wendy's chicken nuggets to be very good. I can only eat 2 and I am full but yummy. I also like the chili. I tried to eat a piece of a wendy's hamburger and it made me sick? I don't get it the same meat is in their chili? oh well. This new pouch is something. I love being able to feel full on just a few bites.. I am not spending my life eating now. It is great. We went to our church today to give some items for their yearly yard sale and I seen a treadmill so I asked how much for the treadmill and they said $20.00. I brought it home cleaned it up and plugged it in and it works great.. God is very good to us. I am going to that yard sale they are having on May 8th. I also took 3 big bags of clothes to the salvation army. Clothes that have gotten to big for me. WOO-HOO! I love saying that.. lol I will update later. Peace4/27/04 Hello! I just wanted to post today and say I am down 32 pounds and another dress size. WOO-HOO! Chris says he can see me melting away right in front of his eye's. That makes me feel good. I still eat between 3-6 ounces of food per setting depending on what I am eating. If it is more of a liquid like soup then I can eat 6 ounces but if it is solid's like chicken then I can only eat 3 ounces. I am drinking alot of gatorade. It is wonderful stuff..lol For some reason water hurts my pouch no matter what temp it is? I think that is really strange. A person from my church said to try and put lemon in my water. I am going to try that tomorrow. I am almost to the point where I want to start jogging on the treadmill. I think I will wait for a few more pounds to drop off first. Well I will update again soon. Peace5/7/04 Hey everyone. I just wanted to post this update my computer is broken so I am sorry it has been so long. I don't know when the next one will be either but I will try to do it as often as possible. I am down to 279 pounds so I am no longer super obese I am just morbidly obese now. I bought me a swim suit the other day and I accually tried it on can you believe it. I don't think I will be wearing it to the beach yet though..lol Maybe when i lose a bit more. I am however going to lay out in my back yard and get a much needed tan. Something I have wanted to do for so many years I can't even remember what it is like to have a tan on my whole body. I feel unbelievable I even jogged a little on the treadmill yesterday. I can't get over it. I could never have jogged before my knees and hips would have broken under the weight. I love life. Today my Friend Sherri is having her surgery I wish her much luck because she has waited so very long for this. Now she will be a big loser also. Here is her profile please post a comment on her surgery page. Thanks. Peace!5/18/04 Hey everyone It has been a long time. My computer is down and I am using my daughter's. I am now down to 276 pounds that is a total of 41 pounds. I feel better and better everyday. I helped Chris power wash my parents house today and got some sun. I was careful to not get to much. I now have a new thing that happens to me when I start to get full. I call it squaking. I will be eating and all of a sudden "SQUAWK" It is the funniest sound. but when that happens if i don't stop I will regret it. I seen my surgeon on thursday and she said I was doing awesome. I am so blessed to have had this surgery. Update later. Peace6/01/04 Hello everyone, I am at my daughters and wanted to update. It is the first of June already. Wow! I am down 50 pounds and feeling great. I went yesterday and walked on the beach in Cape Charles VA. I loved it. It has been so very long since i have been able to do things like that. I really miss my computer. I can't wait to get it back. My friend Lynn is fixing it for me and updateing it for me. I am so excited. Well I am going to jump off here for now. I will update again soon and I will also have some pictures to post. Peace6/26/04 Hello everyone, I finally got my computer fixed. Thank you Lynn. I have just one problem. Since I got my computer fixed I can't get my camera to work on it any more?? I guess I will have to call Lynn. It has been raining too much I haven't been able to lay out for 4 days now. I am losing my killer tan I got going. I accually bought me a bikini and I have been laying out in my yard. I love it. It has been many many years since I have been in a bikini. I have lost more weight. I am now down 58 pounds. I love it. I will be updating more often since I have my computer back. I am thinking about changing my profile. I am getting a little bored with this one..lol I want to post a new pic but my camera won't work. Dang. I will update soon. Peace6/27/04 Hello, Today is a very sad day for me. I just found out last night that a friend from obesityhelp.com passed away on 6/10/04. Her name was Paula also known by all as She will be truly missed. It is so very sad that there are people dying everyday fighting to have this surgery. This surgery saves lives yet the insurance companies still deny them. Something has to be done about this! But what?8/08/04 Hello everyone, I know it has been so very long since my last update. My computer is still down and my daughters house got hit by lightening and it messed her computer up too. She just got it fixed. She was in Japan for a whole month and she brought me back some really cool things. I am glad to have her home. I am now down 80 pounds. Woo Hoo! In a size 18/20. I went back to work last month and I am doing ok so far. No problems with my health. I really don't see anything happening there. I feel wonderful. My loss is slowed alot but it is still coming off. I went out dancing friday night and had a ball. I will update more often now. I hope to have my computer back in a few weeks. Peace9/11/04 Hey, I got my computer back and John the one who was working on it for me said my board was fried. So no computer. I just got out of the hospital yesterday. I had a blockage in my intestines. The pain was horrible. It felt like my pouch was over full and it was going to explode and my lower back was hurting alot. They did it lap they didn't find a blockage but they did find a cyst on my left overie the size of a grapefruit and they removed my overie. So that was a big shocker.. I ain't having no more babies anyway..lol well i am going to close now. I have to go get some fruit for my friend Dave. As of right now I am down a total of 90 pounds.. woo hoo.9/20/04 Hey Everyone! I had a great weekend. We had a great party for my husband chris on Saturday and he had a ball. Then on Sunday I went with my oldest Daughter to Richmond to see the place where she will be getting married next august 6th. It is going to be beautiful. She is going to have it at Maymont gardens in the Japanese garden. I am so very excited for her. I am now down -94 pounds. I have had alot of pain with this last surgery. This was 10 times more painful than the Gastric Bypass surgery. Even though I have had some complication's I would still have the Gastric Bypass. Well I am going to get off my Daughters computer for now. I will try to update soon.

 

3/25/04 I will be posting every detail of what happened just as soon as I feel better. I have been having some trouble. I was throwing up everything. Even water. Couldn't even take my pain meds. I called the surgeon thinking it was my Med making me sick and she phoned in a diff one. That wasn't the problem. The pain {felt like something trying to break through my chest} was aweful and I was getting so weak. I called the surgeon today and she told me to go right to the hospital for another leak test and sonagram to look for a leak or blockage. The test came back fine everything looked great. So she wants to see me today in her office at 11am. I came home and went to bed for about 2 hours. I woke up and came out into the kitchen to sit with my hubby while he ate a whopper. MMMMM I just wanted to sniff the paper {yes just like the commercial} Not cool..lol So I asked him to make me a little oatmeal and I was going to try to eat one more time. A glutton for punishment. After just 2 bites I immediately felt better the pain Was gone and I stopped puking? I have since found out that if I don't feed this thing every 2 hours or keep it full I get really sick and the pain is terrible? I will be asking the surgeon today about this? Doesn't sound right. Well anywho. God Bless you all. Peace





3/26/04 Hello Beautiful Life. I am down 15 pounds.. I am going to walk you thru my surgery experience. I got up on Friday at 9am.. Well the alarm was set for 9am.. I was up all night..lol I took my shower at 9am and washed with the antibacterial soap. When my hubby got up I had him take some before pictures of me with the polaroid camera
I wanted some naked ones to put in a scrapbook for myself. Of course chris wanted some naked ones for his own..lol Men. I then tried to wake my Daughter up and she was too tired so me and Chris got my Hosp. Bag and left. I drove and smiled the whole way.. I got to the hospital at 10:30am and checked in. They told me to go to the day surgery room and sign in. They then told me to sit down and wait. My wonderful friend Barry was already sitting there waiting on me..lol I sat down for maybe 10 min's and talked to Barry and My hubby took Pictures of us and they called me to go back. Chris went with me. they told him to go and wait in my room while they checked me in. They then asked me to verify my name, Social security # and what I was having done. They took my blood pressure and it was a little up but they said it was because I was so excited to be there.. lol OK. They weighed me 317 Lbs Then they took me to the room. There they told me to get undressed and take off everything I didn't come into this world with..lol They gave me a big gown to put on thank you nothing worse than those things being to darn small. I got into the bed and they put my I.V. in. I really started to get scared then. I laid there with Chris beside me and cried. I was in there for about 30 mins. they came and wheeled me to the surgical holding Chris kissed me and told me he will love me forever. I cried all the way there. When I got in there 2 Nurses came over to talk to me and made me verify everything again. They also asked me if I was sure I was ready. Because I was crying. I said yes! I have been waiting for over 3 years. I am just scared. When am I going to get my margarita cocktail?? lol They said after the anesthisiologist talks to me. OK! He came and talked to me asked me to verify all the info again asked if I had ever been put under before and if there was a problem with it before. He then explained what was going to happen and gave me my margarita. I was still crying and he had to give me a second. I have always been a big drinker..lol After that second one WOW I felt good..lol I started humming songs..lol they came in at 1:15 and told me that Dr. Brown had an emergency and was going to be a little late.. What? Oh well I am feeling no pain..lol I asked them to call and tell chris in the waiting room so he wouldn't worry. they came and got me at 2:10pm. They put the designer hat on and rolled me into the operating room. They had me scoot over onto the table. Brrrr cold. and Very very bright I needed sun glasses. They hooked me up to the heart monitor put a blood pressure cup on my arm and the finger thing for the oxygen level's. They put the massaging boots on for my circulation. They said Sweet dreams and I don't remember anything else until I woke up in the recovery room.

OMG!! The pain was extreme. I wimpered and that was it Morphine heaven. No more pain. I asked about the surgery if there were any complications and they said no everything went great. I looked down at my stomach likeit was going to be smaller?? LOL I asked if Chris new and they said yes. I was wheeled to my room and Chris, My Daughter Tabatha and my son T.J. were there waiting for me with flowers, balloons and animals. awwww. I was in no real pain at this point and I even wanted to get up and walk. They said no. The next day I started having alot of gas pain OMG!! this is worse than being cut on. I could not get comfortable so I asked if I could please walk and they said ok. That helped some. The next day they came in to take out the drain tube. OMG! This is the weirdest feeling i have ever experienced. Like something is crawling around inside you and the Nurse said on 3 take a deep breath. 1. 2. 3. OMG!! BIG OUCHIE. Then the pain was all gone. That drain tube is what was causing all my pain. Much Much better. The Next day I Went down to have my leak test done and it was fine so they let me go home. So that is what happened and It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I will update later. Bye.




3/30/04 Hello everyone, I have been doing alot of spring cleaning. I have so much energy since surgery I am going crazy doing things. I love it. Not in any pain now. I feel like I am eating way too much though. I am eating 4 oz's every 2-4 hours Dr. Brown says that is ok. She said eating that often is better for you because it boost your matabolisum. OK? She is the surgeon. I feel absolutley wonderful. My hips and Back don't hurt as bad and I am off my blood pressure meds. I have been doing alot of walking and low impact arobics. Life couldn't be any more sweet. As far as the amount that I was suppose to pay ie. The co-pay 20%. I will be billed for it. God is Great. Peace





4/02/04 Hey everyone! Today is the 2 week mark since surgery. I am down 19 pounds. I am below 300 now WOO-HOO!! I am doing great. I haven't found anything I can't eat yet. I am still taking it easy though not pushing it yet. I tried some wendy's chili and ate 1/2 a small and it was wonderful. The weight just seems to be melting off. Chris says he can see a difference in my belly and butt. lol I will be taking pic's next week and sending them out in a mass e-mail. The scale moves almost every day. The scale is a friend now and not my enemy any longer. I accually like getting on the scale now..lol I walk everyday. I use my treadmill like I use to use my mouth..lol I feel like a new person and each day is getting better. This Surgery is the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I wish I would have done it sooner. I am sure I will still have my good days and bad but for now I am enjoying my life and Thank God Every Day for it. Peace


4/11/04 Happy Easter! I am 3 weeks out and down 25 Pounds. I feel great. I finally started getting that full feeling. I was getting scared it wouldn't happen for me. I guess the nerve endings in my new pouch had to heal. That would make since huh?? DUH! I still haven't found anything that makes me sick yet. Not even sugar. I was hoping it would. I am being real careful though not trying to much sugar just a little so far and nothing has happened. I like the splenda anyway. I have so much energy, I have been spring cleaning everything. lol I LOVE THIS NEW LIFE! I just wish I could have done this years ago. Now I will say it does take some getting use to and I do have my good days and bad. I think on some days I am even mourning food a little. but nothing can compare to the way I feel. No pain and so much energy. This is great! Tomorrow is my 42nd birthday. I refuse to turn a day older than 35..lol I will update later. Peace


4/16/04 Hey everybody, everybody hey! Today is the 4 week mark since surgery. I feel wonderful. My clothes are fitting me better and I can even get into some things that I never thought I would ever get back into. YEE HAW! It is like having brand new clothes. As a matter of fact some of the things were brand new I never got to wear them. I was measuring and taking pic's every week up until the 4 week mark. Now I am only going to measure and take pic's every month. I hope this really helps those of you that are just starting out in your journey to the losing side. I will tell you this. The gas pains after surgery are a real killer. That was really the only real pain I experienced after the first wake up after surgery. The drain tube being pulled out of me was a relief. I was so full of gas that the tube being out gave it a little more room and that made a big difference. So be expecting the gas people. I had a wonderful birthday. My oldest daughter came over and brought me some lillies a balloon some cookies and a card.. She is so very thoughtful. I am now 42, However I am turning it around so I am really 24.. LOL I will update later. Peace


4/23/04 Hello one and all. I am now down 31 pounds. I have found Wendy's chicken nuggets to be very good. I can only eat 2 and I am full but yummy. I also like the chili. I tried to eat a piece of a wendy's hamburger and it made me sick? I don't get it the same meat is in their chili? oh well. This new pouch is something. I love being able to feel full on just a few bites.. I am not spending my life eating now. It is great. We went to our church today to give some items for their yearly yard sale and I seen a treadmill so I asked how much for the treadmill and they said $20.00. I brought it home cleaned it up and plugged it in and it works great.. God is very good to us. I am going to that yard sale they are having on May 8th. I also took 3 big bags of clothes to the salvation army. Clothes that have gotten to big for me. WOO-HOO! I love saying that.. lol I will update later. Peace


4/27/04 Hello! I just wanted to post today and say I am down 32 pounds and another dress size. WOO-HOO! Chris says he can see me melting away right in front of his eye's. That makes me feel good. I still eat between 3-6 ounces of food per setting depending on what I am eating. If it is more of a liquid like soup then I can eat 6 ounces but if it is solid's like chicken then I can only eat 3 ounces. I am drinking alot of gatorade. It is wonderful stuff..lol For some reason water hurts my pouch no matter what temp it is? I think that is really strange. A person from my church said to try and put lemon in my water. I am going to try that tomorrow. I am almost to the point where I want to start jogging on the treadmill. I think I will wait for a few more pounds to drop off first. Well I will update again soon. Peace




5/7/04 Hey everyone. I just wanted to post this update my computer is broken so I am sorry it has been so long. I don't know when the next one will be either but I will try to do it as often as possible. I am down to 279 pounds so I am no longer super obese I am just morbidly obese now. I bought me a swim suit
the other day and I accually tried it on can you believe it. I don't think I will be wearing it to the beach yet though..lol Maybe when i lose a bit more. I am however going to lay out in my back yard and get a much needed tan. Something I have wanted to do for so many years I can't even remember what it is like to have a tan on my whole body. I feel unbelievable I even jogged a little on the treadmill yesterday. I can't get over it. I could never have jogged before my knees and hips would have broken under the weight. I love life. Today my Friend Sherri is having her surgery I wish her much luck because she has waited so very long for this. Now she will be a big loser also. Here is her profile please post a comment on her surgery page. Sherri's Profile Thanks. Peace!


5/18/04 Hey everyone It has been a long time. My computer is down and I am using my daughter's. I am now down to 276 pounds that is a total of 41 pounds. I feel better and better everyday. I helped Chris power wash
my parents house today and got some sun. I was careful to not get to much. I now have a new thing that happens to me when I start to get full. I call it squaking. I will be eating and all of a sudden "SQUAWK" It is the funniest sound. but when that happens if i don't stop I will regret it. I seen my surgeon on thursday and she said I was doing awesome. I am so blessed to have had this surgery. Update later. Peace



6/01/04 Hello everyone, I am at my daughters and wanted to update. It is the first of June already. Wow! I am down 50 pounds and feeling great. I went yesterday and walked on the beach in Cape Charles VA. I loved it. It has been so very long since i have been able to do things like that. I really miss my computer. I can't wait to get it back. My friend Lynn is fixing it for me and updateing it for me. I am so excited. Well I am going to jump off here for now. I will update again soon and I will also have some pictures to post. Peace

6/26/04 Hello everyone, I finally got my computer fixed. Thank you Lynn. I have just one problem. Since I got my computer fixed I can't get my camera to work on it any more?? I guess I will have to call Lynn. It has been raining too much I haven't been able to lay out for 4 days now. I am losing my killer tan I got going. I accually bought me a bikini and I have been laying out in my yard. I love it. It has been many many years since I have been in a bikini. I have lost more weight. I am now down 58 pounds. I love it. I will be updating more often since I have my computer back. I am thinking about changing my profile. I am getting a little bored with this one..lol I want to post a new pic but my camera won't work. Dang. I will update soon. Peace

6/27/04 Hello, Today is a very sad day for me. I just found out last night that a friend from obesityhelp.com passed away on 6/10/04. Her name was Paula also known by all as
"MOMMA ANGEL"
She will be truly missed. It is so very sad that there are people dying everyday fighting to have this surgery. This surgery saves lives yet the insurance companies still deny them. Something has to be done about this! But what?





8/08/04 Hello everyone, I know it has been so very long since my last update. My computer is still down and my daughters house got hit by lightening and it messed her computer up too. She just got it fixed. She was in Japan for a whole month and she brought me back some really cool things. I am glad to have her home. I am now down 80 pounds. Woo Hoo! In a size 18/20. I went back to work last month and I am doing ok so far. No problems with my health. I really don't see anything happening there. I feel wonderful. My loss is slowed alot but it is still coming off. I went out dancing friday night and had a ball. I will update more often now. I hope to have my computer back in a few weeks. Peace

9/11/04 Hey, I got my computer back and John the one who was working on it for me said my board was fried. So no computer. I just got out of the hospital yesterday. I had a blockage in my intestines. The pain was horrible. It felt like my pouch was over full and it was going to explode and my lower back was hurting alot. They did it lap they didn't find a blockage but they did find a cyst on my left overie the size of a grapefruit and they removed my overie. So that was a big shocker.. I ain't having no more babies anyway..lol well i am going to close now. I have to go get some fruit for my friend Dave. As of right now I am down a total of 90 pounds.. woo hoo.

9/20/04 Hey Everyone! I had a great weekend. We had a great party for my husband chris on Saturday and he had a ball. Then on Sunday I went with my oldest Daughter to Richmond to see the place where she will be getting married next august 6th. It is going to be beautiful. She is going to have it at Maymont gardens in the Japanese garden. I am so very excited for her. I am now down -94 pounds. I have had alot of pain with this last surgery. This was 10 times more painful than the Gastric Bypass surgery. Even though I have had some complication's I would still have the Gastric Bypass. Well I am going to get off my Daughters computer for now. I will try to update soon.
0 comments

1/26/02 - 12/28/03

Feb 20, 2007


Susan's Journey Begins


*2002*
PRE-OP



1/26/02 I am a 40 year old female who has been over weight since my second child. (20 years) I am married to a wonderful man who married me knowing how big I am and never seeing the real me. He says he loves me no matter what and if this is going to help me live longer he is for it. I have 3 great kids that love me and are supportive of this too. I am very lucky to have a very understanding and caring family. My Daddy and Mother are concerned about my weight and don't want me to end up like my brother, biological mother aunts,uncles ect. To put it bluntly they do not want me to die because of my weight. I know they have reservations about this WLS, but they also said they love me and want me around for a long time and will support me in what ever I decide to do. They are all my living Angel's



2/02/02 I have applied to several insurance companies and they turn me down because of my weight and related problems. I want this sugery I need this surgery to save my life. Please any info is welcome.

7/02/02 I can't find an insurance company who will accept me. So my husband is going to look for a job that has medical.

11/02/02 My husband started a new job that has trigon BCBS. It will be 90 days before we can sign up for it. :)) wish me luck



12/18/02 I have been doing alot of research on everything for this surgery. I am sooo very excited. I hope everything goes alright.

*2003*





1/27/03 Just 1 more month and I will have medical insurance. Then I will be setting appointments to get ready for my surgery. I am getting real excited



2/5/03 I just got off the phone with Carol Dr. Doxey's Appointment Nurse. She sounds real nice. I made my 1st appointment to meet with Dr. Doxey on 2/26/03. I can't wait I am so excited. I was so happy that when I got off the phone with her I cried... The Journey to getting my life back has begun...;-)

2/12/03 I had to reschedule my appt. Dr.Doxey is going on vacation so the soonest appt. I could get was 3/12/03. Oh well I have waited this long a little bit more won't kill me! or will it? :-)

2/22/03 I went to the mall today and got up enough courage to get on a scale. I am too big to get on a regular scale they only go up to 280-300 pounds. I was real upset to find I have gained more weight. I now weight 320.I can't stand this anymore.

2/23/03 Today I recieved an e-mail from Sharon Neva. She read my profile and sent me words of encouragement. She is truely an angel, I was really depressed and she said some really nice things and made me smile. Thank you Sharon! :-)

2/24/03 Today I recieved and e-mail from another angel her name is Momma Angel and she gave me words of encouragement. she told me to never give up and to keep on fighting that my life is worth it. I really love you guys. Thank You Momma Angel.. <---Momma Angel passed away 6/10/04 fighting for her surgery! God Bless. she is an angle among us!--->.Momma Angel

2/25/03 Tonight I will be going to my first WLS support group meeting. I am excited. The meeting leader said that my surgeon will also be there tonight. She said he goes 2-3 times a year, so I am lucky I get to meet him before my appointment. will update later.

2/26/03 My daughter Heather and I went to the WLS group meeting. It was very informative. It scared the b'Jesus out of her though. LOL I already knew most of the things they talked about because of this site. My surgeron Dr. Doxey didn't make it in. I am awaiting my 1st appointment with the surgeon now. March 12 I can hardley wait.

2/28/03 Today I sent E-mail's to my friends and Family to let them know what I was doing.(getting the WLS) Alot of them didn't know. So I am waiting for their responces. I hope they all understand and support me in this. Will update later.




3/10/03 Today I found out that My husbands employer didn't put in for the insurance when they were suppose to. So our insurance doesn't start til April. UUGGHHH!!! I have to reschedule my appointment with Dr. Doxey for 4/7/03. I am so very upset.

3/16/03 Today was a bad day. I got up this morning and couldn't get out of bed. I was in extreme pain in my lower stomach. I had to get my husband to wash me and wipe me. We went to church and I almost sat there and cried the whole time. After church my husband rushed me to the hospital. After a 6 hour wait test's and x-ray's the Doctor said he narrowed it down to either a hernia or something wrong with my hip bone? He gave me a prescription for pain med's and naproxin for inflamation and gave me a referral to an othopedic specialist. and told me to see my pcp on monday? More ammunition for the surgery..will keep you posted.

3/21/03 Hello everyone, Just wanted to let you know that I recieved alot of responces to my letter's I sent out to my friends and family. They are all supporting me in my decision. They all send their prayers and wished me luck. I have great friend's and family. I just spent 3 days in bed unable to walk or stand. I was in excruciating pain. I have an appointment with my PCP on 4/1/03. Hope that is good luck? because it is April fools day. I have my consultation with the surgeon on 4/7/03. I can not wait. Each day it is harder and harder to do anything even get out of bed. I hurt all the time and have real trouble standing for anymore than 5 min's at a time. I will update after my consult with my surgeon Dr. Doxey.



4/1/03 Today I went to my PCP Dr. Williams. This was my first appointment with him. He is a wonderful doctor and was very supportive in my decision about having the WLS. I weighed in at 300 so either the scale at the mall was wrong or I have lost 20 Lbs.. I think the scale in the mall was wrong...I am still in alot of pain. I have an appointment with my Gyn on 4/3/03 My PCP wants to wait till then to see if he finds anything wrong. I will update after that appointment.

4/3/03 Ok I am very very upset... My PCP tried to get me a referral to be seen by the WLS Doctor and It was denied. I was on the phone all day yesterday with the insurance co. There is nothing I can do.. It is the worst insurance that you can have. They won't even pay for my blood pressure meds. I just want to die. I had to cancel my appointment with Dr. Doxey.. Looks like the surgery is a no go.. So I will just give up now and stay fat til I die.. which won't be long.


4/13/03 I just wanted to update you on what is going on. Yesterday was my birthday so I am now 41. Yea! lol.. I had just gotten off the phone with Debbie Ashleman a friend I met off this site..She is having her surgery tomorrow.. Way to go Debbie. When my husband's boss called to let him know that he is looking into the obesity rider for me. I am so very happy. After my husband told me that I sat on my bed and cried for about 20 min's. Yipeeee.. If Jeff Foster does this for me He will be in my eyes an angel. I will be there for him thru anything Because the way I see it he is saving my life. Way to go Jeff.;-)

4/25/03 Today I called my husbands employer to find out about the obesity rider. The secretary Jean told me they looked into the rider and it is too expensive and they are not going to buy it. I guess that means I am not going to have the surgery after all. I was so hopeing for this to go thru. I guess I will get my second wish... To Just Die!



5/9/03 Today I found out that my husbands employer is going to change insurance for us. He can't do it till open enrollment which is in November. He is changing from the HMO to the PPO and they pay for the surgery. YEEEEEHAAAAAWWWWW! I have some hope once again. Wish me luck everyone...




6/2/03 I just got word from one of my WLS friends that Dr. Doxey Is no longer taking Patients. He is going to leave the area for Arizona in August. I will have to look for another WLS Doctor.. ;~(

6/6/03 I went to my PCP today for a complete physical. I have gained another 8 pounds. ;-( He was concerned with the pain that i am having in my legs and wanted some blood work done to rule out a muscle desease.. He couldn't give me the stress test because I can't walk good enough for one. I asked him to put me on a doc supervised diet so when we switch to our new insurance in November if they ask for one I will already have it. So he set me up with an appointment with a dietician.. I have seen them before with all 3 of my children and they didn't help then and probably won't now. will update later.

6/16/03 I went to the Doc today because he got my blood test back and needed to speak with me. I do not have a muscle desease. Thank GOD! I do however have borderline diabetes and my thyroid is not working. He says that once I start taking the thyroid med's I will be able to lose weight.. That is good news. He wanted me to go to a Dietician but my insurance will not pay for it?? so that is out of the question. I have also gained 2 more pounds.. YUCK I hate this




7/03/03 I just wanted to update everyone on what has been happening. My PCP did another blood test on me to make sure that my thyroid was not properly working. The results came back saying that it was fine?? How can it be not working 1 minute and then work again. Why do my legs still hurt all the time. Why am I tired all the time. Why am I always hungry and gaining weight.. Right now I hate life. He said that he isn't going to put me on any thyroid med's if it is fine now. He also said that the only way for me to stop the other things is to lose weight? My insurance won't even pay for a consult to the WLS Doc's much less the surgery.. I am having a bad day. I am really down right now. Will post later.

7/17/03 I have found another surgeon. I have picked Dr. Wohlgemuth. He has done a few WLS's on here and I have read up on him.. So I think he is going to be the one.. I will know better when I get to meet him. Will post later..



08/16/03 Just wanted to update everyone on everything that is happening. I tried to go back to work on 08/04/03 went for 3 days and was in so much pain that I couldn't get out of bed so I had to quit. I went to the doctor and he took x-rays of my back and found out that I have degenerative disc disease. No cure! Then on the way home I was rear ended. So to the ER I went. Thank God nothing serious just pulled muscles. I have met this wonderful friend on this chat line. Her name is Sherri. She is a heaven sent angel just for me. I was about to give up and she gave me courage and strength and a reason to keep fighting. Without her I would have given up and would have never heard the good news that my husbands boss is going to purchase a new insruance co that will pay 80% of the surgery that will take effect in November. I will still have to come up with around $3000.00 - $5000.00. Depending on how much the total surgery will be. Then sherri told me we could borrow from my husband's retirement fund.. YIPEEE!! I am almost there. Even when I get this surgery I WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE ONES WHO ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING APPROVED. This is so sad that people have to fight just to save there lives. It should not be this way. Will update later. Love, Peace and hair grease..

8/22/03 Hi just wanted to update. I went to busch gardens yesterday to take my Brother in-Law from PA. I couldn't ride any rides and couldn't walk around so I had to get a motorized wheelchair. I went to get on the sky lift and when it was fixing to take off it broke down. I felt terrible. I felt that it was my fault because i am so fat I broke the thing. My husband and brother In-Law said it wasn't that. I still felt like it was. :~(

8/27/03 I found out that the insurance I will be getting has a maximum co pay of $2500.00 for single and $5000.00 for family. So I called my dad last night to let him know that the insurance will be paying for 80% of the surgery and that if anyone in the family wanted to get me something for Christmas this year to send money so that I can have my surgery. That I would be having the surgery at the end of Dec or in Jan. That would be the best Christmas present ever. I have really gotten close to a few people from this site; met me some real good friends. No one can ever know what it is like for us except someone who is acually going thru it. They really understand and don't down me for anything I do because they are in the same boat. This is a really great site and it has saved so many lives. Well I will update later.

8/28/03 Today I sat at the computer for 4 hours sending all the United States Senators a letter pleading for them to do something about the insurance companies not helping Morbidly Obese individuals. Here is a copy of what I sent to them...

To whom it may concern:

We are writing this to be heard by someone who cares about Morbidly Obese people and a national health crisis. We are Morbidly Obese people who have been fighting for years to get insurance companies to cover the Gastric Bypass surgery. They have denied us time and time again the right to have a somewhat normal life. Insurance Companies who refuse to cover this and Doctors who refuse to do this without insurance coverage is wrong! You ask why this is wrong? We are going to try an explain to make you see that we are people just like the person with heart disease, clogged arteries, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sugar diabetes. Morbid Obesity is a DISEASE! Just like the other diseases that are treated by your Doctor's, insurance company's and State teaching hospitals. There is no difference in any of these. Each are caused by food, genetics, and under lying medical conditions. The cause is the same but the out come is different. Medically the word "MORBID" means not sound and healthy; induced by a diseased or abnormal condition; DISEASED; Sickly; of or pertaining to disease or diseased parts. As MORBID OBESITY! Morbid Obesity is a serious disease process in which the accumulation of fatty tissue on the body becomes excessive and interferes with or causes injury to the other bodily organs and skeletal structure; Causing serious and life-threatening health problems which are called co-morbidities. Some 300,000 Americans a year die from illnesses caused or worsened by obesity a toll that may soon over take Cancer and Diabetes the chief cause of premature deaths. Gastric bypass along with other surgeries are a tool for us not an elective surgery and not cosmetic as some insurance companies have classified this treatment. This surgery can save our lives. Your Doctor tells you that a Gastric bypass is a medically necessary procedure, but the insurance companies deny you? You pay your premiums so that you can have the kind of medical you will need when you are sick or injured or need an operation. Obese people are being denied everyday the right to life, we are forced to live in misery not by our choice but by someone else's choice. By being denied help is making obese people "Prisoner's of a discriminating society." We have not committed a crime; Yet someone who has never seen us and does not know our health problems have total control over our health. Doctor's need to be given the right to be doctor's. I know for a fact that inmates get better health treatment than any FREE person. The sad part is MY tax dollar is paying for it. Yet, I can't get the help that is needed? What is wrong with this picture? I'm a morbidly obese female unemployed for the past 3 years due to my weight and have not been able to get any help as far as the surgery is concerned. I feel this to be unfair. I want to work and until I can get this surgery I am unable to, what's fair about that? How long must my family suffer from the lack of social acceptance and denial of treatment so I can get my life back? I feel that if your Doctor decides this is a medically necessary surgery, that should be the final word! Let the Doctor be the Doctor, the insurance companies are not Doctor's and they do not know medicine. So why are they allowed to over ride my Doctors decision? Who knows what's right for their patient the Doctor or the Insurance Company? This is a national crisis. Obesity is not going away it is only getting worse; because, it is a disease, just like the others. Insurance Companies and some regulations at hospitals are killing people by denying this surgery for the morbidly obese. If you murder someone you go to jail; it's a crime. What's the difference in being denied this tool to save your life or killing someone? Most of us know this isn't an easy way out. It is a very serious surgery and we as American's should have the freedom to make this choice not a stranger. Nobody but myself and others who have been in this position, have any idea how we suffer. There are the stares, the comments, the pain, humiliation, depression, etc. On a daily basis; yet congress, the Insurance companies, Americans along with the Department of health and human resources have turned a deaf ear to our cries. We are not going away! It is time for you to stand up and listen to the other part of society. Now is the time for change and acceptance. Now is the time to declare obesity as part of the discrimination act. If you're rich you can have what you want, but most of us live our lives on a day to day basis, from pay check to pay check never knowing when this might be the day that we won't wake up. What we are asking are for some changes in the policies and respect for who we are. We are Americans in need of help, there are thousands of us here in AMERICA who need to be taken care of, lets take care of our own. Why can we bring people from other countries here and give them FREE medical and surgery but we don't even take care of our own first? Be loyal to your fellow Americans first. In closing remember we too have a voice and the right to vote. This is a "National Crisis." How much longer will you keep turning your back?

Respectfully,
Melinda Gregory
Susan Merrick
Sherri Parker
Christopher Merrick
&
The Rest of the Obese Population

I sure hope this does some good.. I said I wasn't going to give up! I AM GOING TO KEEP ON TILL THEY DO SOMETHING!

8/29/03 I just recieved a response from Senator George Allen in VA. He said he couldn't do anything about this that it is not a federal matter?? I beg to differ but anyway he said he was going to forward my mail to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources. They are suppose to get in touch with me?? We will see..



9/06/03 Ok here is the latest. Thurdays 9/04 I was making my breakfast a bowl of cereal. When I got really dizzy and fell down. I sat there and in a few minutes it passed and I felt fine. Then at 12:30 I was watching my soaps and got up to go to the rest room. I got really dizzy fell into the side of the fireplace and stumbled into the restroom and threw up twice. My left arm went numb, I got a real bad headache and the nausea was unreal. It felt just like I had been on a carousel at 100 MPH. I called my Daughter Heather and she rushed right over and took me to the Hosp. They admitted me and did all kinds of test. EKG,MRI,CARDIOGRAM,CATSCAN, a ultrasound on my neck arteries, all kinds of blood work, They gave me some medication for the dizziness and told me that I have to follow up with a physical therapist for my walking. I was released today 9/06. I don't have slurred speech. I am having trouble focussing on things. My vision is a bit blurrier? I can walk. It is very hard because of the dizziness. Please Keep me in your prayers.. IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE WILL BRING YOU THRU IT!! GOD BLESS..

9/09/03 Hi Today is a good day. My dizziness seems to be going away! YEE HAW THANK GOD. Nothing permanent. My back doesn't hurt today that is rare and my hips are not hurting that is very rare. Today I have been blessed.. Maybe I can clean some of my house. lol I am really looking forward to having this surgery so that I can start living my life again and be able to do things again. Once I have this surgery the pain will stop and then other things will get me excited. Not just that I am in no pain and can clean my house. Until next time. Peace

9/10/03 I woke up today and after a little dizziness it stopped.. I am not dizzy! YEE HAW! I do have some pain in my back and hips today. I was able to get some house work done yesterday. I have to start plans about my husband's surprise birthday party. His birthday is 9/15 but we are having the party on 9/20 a sat. That way he can enjoy himself. Will update later.

9/15/03 Today is my husband Chris' 29th birthday. We are planning a party on Sat 9/20/03, But we have a hurricane coming. Hurricane Isabel 155 MPH winds. We are packing up our important things and our animals and we are going to a motel. If we have a house when we get back we will still have his party..lol I just hope that this Storm Doesn't hurt anyone. Will update once the electric and phone service is back on in this area. Peace

9/18/03 Here I sit at 5:30am and Hurricane Isabel is right off the coast. It is really windy and rainy. They have a manditory evacuation throughout the area. I have decided to stay. I don't think that a cat 2 is going to do that much to my house. I see on TV that the beach waves are 8-10 feet.. Very big. I live only a few blocks from the beach. But I am sure we will be fine.. Will update after the storm.. Peace

9/25/03 Wow, What a hurricane! We finally got our electric back on last night at 6:30pm. That is 6 1/2 days without elec. We had alot of damage. Trees down everywhere, flooding, Harrison's fishing pier is completely gone. The Portsmouth tunnel is flooded they couldn't get the flood gates down and there is a tanker truck at the bottom of it. They don't know when it will be water free. Hurricane Isabel was a B----! I got a survey yesterday in the mail from my insurance company. HA HA! They asked alot of questions about my PCP, nurses, the office, the way i am treated and the care I have recieved! Then the last question they asked was... "What do you think about this insurance plan?" HA HA! I put down that it is the worst coverage I have ever in my life had! That it is worse than being on welfare and I was changing it in Novemeber. That they need to let the Doctors be the doctor's and if a doctor says the patient needs something the insurance company needs to keep their nose out of it! I wonder what they will do now? lol

9/29/03 Just an update to say that I went to my PCP on friday and he was so very excited that I am changing insurance and am going to be able to have the surgery. I have this cold that just won't go away. I cough and cough and never bring anything up?? I hate it. We Have been cleaning since the hurricane alot of trees and limbs down. will update later. Peace




10/03/03 Went to see my PCP Dr. Williams Yesterday because I was coughing all day and not bringing anything up. He is such a wonderful doctor I would recommend him to anyone and have..lol He is so very caring and attentive. He gave me some antibiotics and cough syrup and I was acually able to sleep thru the night. Dr. Williams is a great man and not bad looking either..lol But he is married.. so back off my doctor..lol

10/10/03 Today I am over joyed. My husband had the new insurance filed today at work. Yee Haw! I am on my way. The first part of November I will be making appt's. I am so very excited... Wish me luck everyone.

10/15/03 I just got a letter from Norfolk Surgical. That is where Dr. Wohlgemuth's pratice is. The letter said that they were sorry but my insurance does not cover the Weight Loss Surgery and they could not help me? WHAT? I HAVE ALREADY TALKED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY MYSELF AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DO COVER IT. IT HAS TO BE MEDICALLY NECESSARY THOUGH. Well forget them. That is God's way of telling me he is not the Surgeon I should have. So I will keep researching and I will find the right one.

10/20/03 It is only 1 week and 5 days til my new insurance takes effect. I can then start my appt's and testing. I am getting real excited. I am also worried. I have been this close before and something always happens and the surgery is cancelled. I am making a list of question's to ask the doc. I am also making a list of things that I want to do once I lose weight. I will post both once I am done. til then.. later..

10/23/03 I have found my surgeon. I have chosen Dr. Beryl Brown. She has excellent credentials. She is with Coastal Surgical Specialist in Va Beach. She has been Certified with the American Board of Surgery since 1997 and expires in 2008. There has been no Claims filed or paid. How I got her name was I heard all the physicians in the emergency room raving about how good she was and when someone would come in needing surgery they would say "call Dr. Brown She is the best" I think that is great. I am going to call them tomorrow.

Questions to ask the Surgeon
1).Are you listed with the ASBS?
2).How many surgeries have you performed? Success rate? Mortality rate?
3).Do you offer more than one type of procedure?
4).What kind of pre-op testing is there?
5).Will the surgery be Proximal or Distal? What surgery would be the best for me?
6).How small will my stomach be after surgery?
7).How can I prevent blood clots? (I have a Family history of this)
8).Laproscopic? Where will the incisions be? Will I have Staples Or sutchers?
9).NG Tube? Will I be on a resperator? Can I have the tube taken out of my throat before I wake up?
10.What kind of tubes will be in me when I wake up? Where & Why? Drainage Tube when I go home?
11).How long will I have the drain tube?
12).Scar Tissue.
13).Can I be given something for nausea/vomiting before surgery?
14).Epidural/Pain Management? Will I be able to have Pain meds as soon as I wake up?
15).Prenatal Vitamins?
16).Why pain in shoulders for some? What other "normal" pains can I expect?
17).What Pain meds will I be on?
18).How long will I be in surgery? How long in recovery? ICU?
19).When should I get up and walk after surgery?
20).Will the nurses know what I am able to eat and drink?
21).When will the cathater be removed
22).Will I have a binder or need one?
23).Which hospital?
24).How long of a stay?
25).When may I return to work? Drive? Exercise? Sex?
26).Restrictions after surgery?
27).How long is the recovery?
28).Can I get a copy of the post-op sample diet?
29).Is there any supplements I should take before & after?
30).Should I be doing anything before surgery?
31).Anything special I'll need when I get home?
32).How soon can we schedule the surgery?
33).# of follow-up appointments?
34).Pre-op testing: what is required & may I have it done via my PCP?
35).I'm concerned about taking my meds post-op.
36).Will I see a dietician here before I go home?
37).What is your most common complication? Ulcers?
38).Will I be given a phone # to call if I have problems post-op?
39).What is the long term success rate of your patients who have had this particular kind of surgery?
40).How many follow up appointments do I have to have?
41).What can I do to prepare myself for surgery and be successful with as easy recovery as possible
42).What kind of help will I need once I get home?
43).What about my daily asprin after surgery?


10/29/03 Hi everybody, just a few lines to update.. My husband asked the HR at work when the new insurance will start and it start's Nov 1st. That is 3 days away...WOO-HOO! OMG! It has come so fast..lol This is great. that means Monday Nov 3rd I can call the surgeons office and start my pre-op testing.. IE..EKG, Stress Test, Psychological Test, Upper GI, Blood work, colonoscopy, sleep apnea test, and who knows what eles..lol I am going to be a pin cusion..lol That is ok though I am more than ready for this. BRING IT ON! LETS DO THIS THANG.. Will update later.. Love, Peace and Hair grease..

10/31/03HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!



11/04/03 I am Happy and Sad at the same time. My new insurance is suppose to take effect on Nov 1st. But when I called them they had not gotten the info from the employer as of yet. The employer said they sent the application in on 10/30/03. I am freaking out.. I want this to get started. the insurance co said that once they recieve the app then it will be 2-4 weeks before I get my new cards.. I am going to throw a fit. I have been waiting long enough and now they are telling me I have to wait even longer. This is so very unfair...

11/05/03 I have great news.. I have my appointment with the surgeon. IT'S TOMORROW AT 4PM. They had a cancellation. YEE HAW. I am on my way.. I am so freaking happy I want to dance naked around the block.

11/6/03 I went to see Dr. Brown today the surgeon. She is really very nice and explained alot to me. She is very personable. She told me that if I had my surgery lap then it will be 3 months before I can have surgery. If I have it open then I can have it 3-4 weeks out? Now I have a dilema... What to do. Do I have it Lap and wait till Feb or March or do i have it open and have it by the end of Dec or begining of Jan? I am confused now. I have alot to think about now. I have till Dec 4th to make a decision that is when I will see her again.




12/20/03 I GOT A DATE!! Hey everyone I finally got internet again. Yea!! I went and seen Dr. Brown again on 12/4/03 that is my surgeon and she said that I am a good candidate for Lap surgery. My surgery date is 3/19/04 at 1:00 PM. I can't wait. I never thought i would ever be able to say I have a date..lol I danced a jig when I got the news. The insurance company only took 2 days to approve me. WOW! Dr. Brown is very nice she answered all my questions and even answered some i had not had..lol She said I am a surgery virgin because I have never had surgery before. My husband liked her too she doesn't seem stuck on herself and she really knows what she is talking about and she also has a second doctor help her with the lap's when she does them. She is so very personable. Well I will be keeping you all up on my progress and I sure have missed everyone.. I am glad I am back on line.. will update later.. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


12/28/03 I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I really enjoyed myself. Knowing that this is going to be the last year that I will be able to eat all the goodies I PIGGED OUT {pardon the pun.} My Friend Donnie & his wife Brandy gave me & my hubby a home gym for Christmas because they know I will need something for after my surgery. Let me rephrase that they are friends but I consider them part of my family. Donnie has been there for me thru some really though times. He has always been my shoulder to cry on. They are good people's. Well I hope that everyone has a very happy and prosperous New Year. I can't believe it is 2004 already! HAPPY NEW YEAR 2004! I'm going dancing!

10/29/03 Hi everybody, just a few lines to update.. My husband asked the HR at work when the new insurance will start and it start's Nov 1st. That is 3 days away...WOO-HOO! OMG! It has come so fast..lol This is great. that means Monday Nov 3rd I can call the surgeons office and start my pre-op testing.. IE..EKG, Stress Test, Psychological Test, Upper GI, Blood work, colonoscopy, sleep apnea test, and who knows what eles..lol I am going to be a pin cusion..lol That is ok though I am more than ready for this. BRING IT ON! LETS DO THIS THANG.. Will update later.. Love, Peace and Hair grease..10/31/03HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! 11/04/03 I am Happy and Sad at the same time. My new insurance is suppose to take effect on Nov 1st. But when I called them they had not gotten the info from the employer as of yet. The employer said they sent the application in on 10/30/03. I am freaking out.. I want this to get started. the insurance co said that once they recieve the app then it will be 2-4 weeks before I get my new cards.. I am going to throw a fit. I have been waiting long enough and now they are telling me I have to wait even longer. This is so very unfair... 11/05/03 I have great news.. I have my appointment with the surgeon. IT'S TOMORROW AT 4PM. They had a cancellation. YEE HAW. I am on my way.. I am so freaking happy I want to dance naked around the block. 11/6/03 I went to see Dr. Brown today the surgeon. She is really very nice and explained alot to me. She is very personable. She told me that if I had my surgery lap then it will be 3 months before I can have surgery. If I have it open then I can have it 3-4 weeks out? Now I have a dilema... What to do. Do I have it Lap and wait till Feb or March or do i have it open and have it by the end of Dec or begining of Jan? I am confused now. I have alot to think about now. I have till Dec 4th to make a decision that is when I will see her again. 12/20/03 I GOT A DATE!! Hey everyone I finally got internet again. Yea!! I went and seen Dr. Brown again on 12/4/03 that is my surgeon and she said that I am a good candidate for Lap surgery. My surgery date is 3/19/04 at 1:00 PM. I can't wait. I never thought i would ever be able to say I have a date..lol I danced a jig when I got the news. The insurance company only took 2 days to approve me. WOW! Dr. Brown is very nice she answered all my questions and even answered some i had not had..lol She said I am a surgery virgin because I have never had surgery before. My husband liked her too she doesn't seem stuck on herself and she really knows what she is talking about and she also has a second doctor help her with the lap's when she does them. She is so very personable. Well I will be keeping you all up on my progress and I sure have missed everyone.. I am glad I am back on line.. will update later.. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!12/28/03 I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I really enjoyed myself. Knowing that this is going to be the last year that I will be able to eat all the goodies I PIGGED OUT {pardon the pun.} My Friend Donnie & his wife Brandy gave me & my hubby a home gym for Christmas because they know I will need something for after my surgery. Let me rephrase that they are friends but I consider them part of my family. Donnie has been there for me thru some really though times. He has always been my shoulder to cry on. They are good people's. Well I hope that everyone has a very happy and prosperous New Year. I can't believe it is 2004 already! HAPPY NEW YEAR 2004! I'm going dancing!

08/16/03 Just wanted to update everyone on everything that is happening. I tried to go back to work on 08/04/03 went for 3 days and was in so much pain that I couldn't get out of bed so I had to quit. I went to the doctor and he took x-rays of my back and found out that I have degenerative disc disease. No cure! Then on the way home I was rear ended. So to the ER I went. Thank God nothing serious just pulled muscles. I have met this wonderful friend on this chat line. Her name is Sherri. She is a heaven sent angel just for me. I was about to give up and she gave me courage and strength and a reason to keep fighting. Without her I would have given up and would have never heard the good news that my husbands boss is going to purchase a new insruance co that will pay 80% of the surgery that will take effect in November. I will still have to come up with around $3000.00 - $5000.00. Depending on how much the total surgery will be. Then sherri told me we could borrow from my husband's retirement fund.. YIPEEE!! I am almost there. Even when I get this surgery I WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE ONES WHO ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING APPROVED. This is so sad that people have to fight just to save there lives. It should not be this way. Will update later. Love, Peace and hair grease.. 8/22/03 Hi just wanted to update. I went to busch gardens yesterday to take my Brother in-Law from PA. I couldn't ride any rides and couldn't walk around so I had to get a motorized wheelchair. I went to get on the sky lift and when it was fixing to take off it broke down. I felt terrible. I felt that it was my fault because i am so fat I broke the thing. My husband and brother In-Law said it wasn't that. I still felt like it was. :~( 8/27/03 I found out that the insurance I will be getting has a maximum co pay of $2500.00 for single and $5000.00 for family. So I called my dad last night to let him know that the insurance will be paying for 80% of the surgery and that if anyone in the family wanted to get me something for Christmas this year to send money so that I can have my surgery. That I would be having the surgery at the end of Dec or in Jan. That would be the best Christmas present ever. I have really gotten close to a few people from this site; met me some real good friends. No one can ever know what it is like for us except someone who is acually going thru it. They really understand and don't down me for anything I do because they are in the same boat. This is a really great site and it has saved so many lives. Well I will update later.8/28/03 Today I sat at the computer for 4 hours sending all the United States Senators a letter pleading for them to do something about the insurance companies not helping Morbidly Obese individuals. Here is a copy of what I sent to them...To whom it may concern:We are writing this to be heard by someone who cares about Morbidly Obese people and a national health crisis. We are Morbidly Obese people who have been fighting for years to get insurance companies to cover the Gastric Bypass surgery. They have denied us time and time again the right to have a somewhat normal life. Insurance Companies who refuse to cover this and Doctors who refuse to do this without insurance coverage is wrong! You ask why this is wrong? We are going to try an explain to make you see that we are people just like the person with heart disease, clogged arteries, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sugar diabetes. Morbid Obesity is a DISEASE! Just like the other diseases that are treated by your Doctor's, insurance company's and State teaching hospitals. There is no difference in any of these. Each are caused by food, genetics, and under lying medical conditions. The cause is the same but the out come is different. Medically the word "MORBID" means not sound and healthy; induced by a diseased or abnormal condition; DISEASED; Sickly; of or pertaining to disease or diseased parts. As MORBID OBESITY! Morbid Obesity is a serious disease process in which the accumulation of fatty tissue on the body becomes excessive and interferes with or causes injury to the other bodily organs and skeletal structure; Causing serious and life-threatening health problems which are called co-morbidities. Some 300,000 Americans a year die from illnesses caused or worsened by obesity a toll that may soon over take Cancer and Diabetes the chief cause of premature deaths. Gastric bypass along with other surgeries are a tool for us not an elective surgery and not cosmetic as some insurance companies have classified this treatment. This surgery can save our lives. Your Doctor tells you that a Gastric bypass is a medically necessary procedure, but the insurance companies deny you? You pay your premiums so that you can have the kind of medical you will need when you are sick or injured or need an operation. Obese people are being denied everyday the right to life, we are forced to live in misery not by our choice but by someone else's choice. By being denied help is making obese people "Prisoner's of a discriminating society." We have not committed a crime; Yet someone who has never seen us and does not know our health problems have total control over our health. Doctor's need to be given the right to be doctor's. I know for a fact that inmates get better health treatment than any FREE person. The sad part is MY tax dollar is paying for it. Yet, I can't get the help that is needed? What is wrong with this picture? I'm a morbidly obese female unemployed for the past 3 years due to my weight and have not been able to get any help as far as the surgery is concerned. I feel this to be unfair. I want to work and until I can get this surgery I am unable to, what's fair about that? How long must my family suffer from the lack of social acceptance and denial of treatment so I can get my life back? I feel that if your Doctor decides this is a medically necessary surgery, that should be the final word! Let the Doctor be the Doctor, the insurance companies are not Doctor's and they do not know medicine. So why are they allowed to over ride my Doctors decision? Who knows what's right for their patient the Doctor or the Insurance Company? This is a national crisis. Obesity is not going away it is only getting worse; because, it is a disease, just like the others. Insurance Companies and some regulations at hospitals are killing people by denying this surgery for the morbidly obese. If you murder someone you go to jail; it's a crime. What's the difference in being denied this tool to save your life or killing someone? Most of us know this isn't an easy way out. It is a very serious surgery and we as American's should have the freedom to make this choice not a stranger. Nobody but myself and others who have been in this position, have any idea how we suffer. There are the stares, the comments, the pain, humiliation, depression, etc. On a daily basis; yet congress, the Insurance companies, Americans along with the Department of health and human resources have turned a deaf ear to our cries. We are not going away! It is time for you to stand up and listen to the other part of society. Now is the time for change and acceptance. Now is the time to declare obesity as part of the discrimination act. If you're rich you can have what you want, but most of us live our lives on a day to day basis, from pay check to pay check never knowing when this might be the day that we won't wake up. What we are asking are for some changes in the policies and respect for who we are. We are Americans in need of help, there are thousands of us here in AMERICA who need to be taken care of, lets take care of our own. Why can we bring people from other countries here and give them FREE medical and surgery but we don't even take care of our own first? Be loyal to your fellow Americans first. In closing remember we too have a voice and the right to vote. This is a "National Crisis." How much longer will you keep turning your back? Respectfully,Melinda GregorySusan Merrick Sherri ParkerChristopher Merrick &The Rest of the Obese PopulationI sure hope this does some good.. I said I wasn't going to give up! I AM GOING TO KEEP ON TILL THEY DO SOMETHING!8/29/03 I just recieved a response from Senator George Allen in VA. He said he couldn't do anything about this that it is not a federal matter?? I beg to differ but anyway he said he was going to forward my mail to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources. They are suppose to get in touch with me?? We will see..9/06/03 Ok here is the latest. Thurdays 9/04 I was making my breakfast a bowl of cereal. When I got really dizzy and fell down. I sat there and in a few minutes it passed and I felt fine. Then at 12:30 I was watching my soaps and got up to go to the rest room. I got really dizzy fell into the side of the fireplace and stumbled into the restroom and threw up twice. My left arm went numb, I got a real bad headache and the nausea was unreal. It felt just like I had been on a carousel at 100 MPH. I called my Daughter Heather and she rushed right over and took me to the Hosp. They admitted me and did all kinds of test. EKG,MRI,CARDIOGRAM,CATSCAN, a ultrasound on my neck arteries, all kinds of blood work, They gave me some medication for the dizziness and told me that I have to follow up with a physical therapist for my walking. I was released today 9/06. I don't have slurred speech. I am having trouble focussing on things. My vision is a bit blurrier? I can walk. It is very hard because of the dizziness. Please Keep me in your prayers.. IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE WILL BRING YOU THRU IT!! GOD BLESS..9/09/03 Hi Today is a good day. My dizziness seems to be going away! YEE HAW THANK GOD. Nothing permanent. My back doesn't hurt today that is rare and my hips are not hurting that is very rare. Today I have been blessed.. Maybe I can clean some of my house. lol I am really looking forward to having this surgery so that I can start living my life again and be able to do things again. Once I have this surgery the pain will stop and then other things will get me excited. Not just that I am in no pain and can clean my house. Until next time. Peace9/10/03 I woke up today and after a little dizziness it stopped.. I am not dizzy! YEE HAW! I do have some pain in my back and hips today. I was able to get some house work done yesterday. I have to start plans about my husband's surprise birthday party. His birthday is 9/15 but we are having the party on 9/20 a sat. That way he can enjoy himself. Will update later. 9/15/03 Today is my husband 29th birthday. We are planning a party on Sat 9/20/03, But we have a hurricane coming. Hurricane Isabel 155 MPH winds. We are packing up our important things and our animals and we are going to a motel. If we have a house when we get back we will still have his party..lol I just hope that this Storm Doesn't hurt anyone. Will update once the electric and phone service is back on in this area. Peace9/18/03 Here I sit at 5:30am and is right off the coast. It is really windy and rainy. They have a manditory evacuation throughout the area. I have decided to stay. I don't think that a cat 2 is going to do that much to my house. I see on TV that the beach waves are 8-10 feet.. Very big. I live only a few blocks from the beach. But I am sure we will be fine.. Will update after the storm.. Peace9/25/03 Wow, What a hurricane! We finally got our electric back on last night at 6:30pm. That is 6 1/2 days without elec. We had alot of damage. Trees down everywhere, flooding, Harrison's fishing pier is completely gone. The Portsmouth tunnel is flooded they couldn't get the flood gates down and there is a tanker truck at the bottom of it. They don't know when it will be water free. Hurricane Isabel was a B----! I got a survey yesterday in the mail from my insurance company. HA HA! They asked alot of questions about my PCP, nurses, the office, the way i am treated and the care I have recieved! Then the last question they asked was... "What do you think about this insurance plan?" HA HA! I put down that it is the worst coverage I have ever in my life had! That it is worse than being on welfare and I was changing it in Novemeber. That they need to let the Doctors be the doctor's and if a doctor says the patient needs something the insurance company needs to keep their nose out of it! I wonder what they will do now? lol 9/29/03 Just an update to say that I went to my PCP on friday and he was so very excited that I am changing insurance and am going to be able to have the surgery. I have this cold that just won't go away. I cough and cough and never bring anything up?? I hate it. We Have been cleaning since the hurricane alot of trees and limbs down. will update later. Peace10/03/03 Went to see my PCP Dr. Williams Yesterday because I was coughing all day and not bringing anything up. He is such a wonderful doctor I would recommend him to anyone and have..lol He is so very caring and attentive. He gave me some antibiotics and cough syrup and I was acually able to sleep thru the night. Dr. Williams is a great man and not bad looking either..lol But he is married.. so back off my doctor..lol10/10/03 Today I am over joyed. My husband had the new insurance filed today at work. Yee Haw! I am on my way. The first part of November I will be making appt's. I am so very excited... Wish me luck everyone.10/15/03 I just got a letter from Norfolk Surgical. That is where Dr. Wohlgemuth's pratice is. The letter said that they were sorry but my insurance does not cover the Weight Loss Surgery and they could not help me? WHAT? I HAVE ALREADY TALKED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY MYSELF AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DO COVER IT. IT HAS TO BE MEDICALLY NECESSARY THOUGH. Well forget them. That is God's way of telling me he is not the Surgeon I should have. So I will keep researching and I will find the right one.10/20/03 It is only 1 week and 5 days til my new insurance takes effect. I can then start my appt's and testing. I am getting real excited. I am also worried. I have been this close before and something always happens and the surgery is cancelled. I am making a list of question's to ask the doc. I am also making a list of things that I want to do once I lose weight. I will post both once I am done. til then.. later..10/23/03 I have found my surgeon. I have chosen Dr. Beryl Brown. She has excellent credentials. She is with Coastal Surgical Specialist in Va Beach. She has been Certified with the American Board of Surgery since 1997 and expires in 2008. There has been no Claims filed or paid. How I got her name was I heard all the physicians in the emergency room raving about how good she was and when someone would come in needing surgery they would say "call Dr. Brown She is the best" I think that is great. I am going to call them tomorrow.

08/16/03 Just wanted to update everyone on everything that is happening. I tried to go back to work on 08/04/03 went for 3 days and was in so much pain that I couldn't get out of bed so I had to quit. I went to the doctor and he took x-rays of my back and found out that I have degenerative disc disease. No cure! Then on the way home I was rear ended. So to the ER I went. Thank God nothing serious just pulled muscles. I have met this wonderful friend on this chat line. Her name is Sherri. She is a heaven sent angel just for me. I was about to give up and she gave me courage and strength and a reason to keep fighting. Without her I would have given up and would have never heard the good news that my husbands boss is going to purchase a new insruance co that will pay 80% of the surgery that will take effect in November. I will still have to come up with around $3000.00 - $5000.00. Depending on how much the total surgery will be. Then sherri told me we could borrow from my husband's retirement fund.. YIPEEE!! I am almost there. Even when I get this surgery I WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE ONES WHO ARE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING APPROVED. This is so sad that people have to fight just to save there lives. It should not be this way. Will update later. Love, Peace and hair grease.. 8/22/03 Hi just wanted to update. I went to busch gardens yesterday to take my Brother in-Law from PA. I couldn't ride any rides and couldn't walk around so I had to get a motorized wheelchair. I went
About Me
Norfolk, VA
Location
30.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
03/19/2004
Surgery Date
Jun 18, 2002
Member Since

Before & After
rollover to see after photo
Very sad and very painful!
320 LBSlbs
141 LBS gone forever! Very happy and feel wonderful!
179 LBSlbs

Friends 10

Latest Blog 3
1/26/02 - 12/28/03

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MESUREMENTS
DATE NECK LF ARM RT ARM BREAST WAIST HIPS LF THIGH RT THIGH LF CALF RT CALF FEET RING SZ
3/16/04 16 1/2 22 21 1/2 55 50 66 32 1/2 33 1/2 19 19 9 W 9 1/2
3/26/04 16 22 22 55 50 64 32 33 18 1/2 18 1/2 9 W 9
4/02/04 16 1/2 22 20 54 47 62 32 32 1/4 17 3/4 18 1/2 9 W 9
4/09/04 16 22 20 55 49 61 31 32 18 18 9 9
4/16/04 16 22 20 51 47 59 31 30 18 18 9 9
5/19/04 17 22 20 48 45 58 30 31 18 19 9 9
6/19/04 16 22 20 48 43 59 29 29 18 18 8 1/2 8 1/2
7/19/04 15 19 19 48 43 56 27 27 17 17 8 1/2 8 1/2
8/19/04 15 17 17 47 40 55 26 27 17 17 8 1/2 8 1/2
9/19/04 15 16 14 46 40 54 26 24 17 17 8 1/2 8 1/2
10/19/04 15 14 14 44 40 52 25 26 16 17 8 1/2 8
11/19/04 14 14 14 43 38 51 23 23 16 16 8 1/2 8
12/19/04 14 14 14 43 36 48 23 23 16 16 8 1/2 8
1/19/05 13.5 14 14 41.5 36 45.5 22.5 24 15.5 15.5 8 1/2 8
2/19/05 13.5 13.5 13 41 36 48 23.5 23.5 15.5 16 8 1/2 7
3/19/05 13.5 13.5 13 41 36 48 23.5 23.5 15.5 15.5 8 1/2 7
4/19/05 13.5 14 14 40 37 46 23 23 15 15 8 1/2 7
11/19/05 13 14 14 39 36 46 23 23 15 15 8 7
4/19/06 13 13 13 36 34 46 23 23 15 15 8 7
DT NK LA RA BR WS HP LT RT LC RC FT RS