Sandy W.
April 17, 2007
I have been reading posting and spending time on the fringe of this broad. Now is the time to jump in with both feet.
My trip like all of you began many, many years ago. I have done the Yo Yo so much I feel like the string will never come out. Of course I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, several times over, as we all were at one time or another. Think of all that dues we paid just to lose and than gain it back alone with a few more friends. My loose always seems to stop at 30-40 lbs and than it all comes back again with friends hanging on. My entire family is big. I have already lost my older brother and sister due to weight related illnesses. My sister was only 45 and my brother had just retired at 62. I want to enjoy my retirement and not worry about the weight related illnesses I already have.
I have two friends that have had WLS. One just had her very first baby in July and both are doing wonderful. The other had almost every complication that comes along. She also had bad heart problems before the surgery. She is on on disability due to it.
I have only had two surgery's in my life and am now almost 55. I do not handle pain meds very well and throw them up so the hardest thing my stomach can take it tylonel.
I have decided to have by-pass not the lapband. When I first started to look at this broad I was convinced that the lapband was the way to go. But after talking and getting more info, I am going for by pass. I know me and my body and it I can eat it I will. That would include ice cream and cake as long as it is small enough to go through the hole. My whole life has been a struggle with will power and the band it not going to improve that problem. That would take a brain transplant with a thin person.
I also have chosen to have Dr Jawad preform this procedure on me. I attended his seminar on Saturday April 14th and so impressed by him, his staff and the speakers. Jan had a wonderful before and after pix. The other were also amazing and I want to be one of them next year or sooner. I am like a sponge right now and cannot get enough of the info I need. I think about this during the day at work and want to do something towards it each day.
My first scheduled appointment is this Friday the 20th starting at 9:00am. I have been trying to complete the diet workup but am at a loss for what happened and when. I have been liaring about my real weight for so long I do not remember when I hit 200 lbs for sure.
I am not planning on telling my co-worker and supervisor what I am having surgery for. They will just say push yourself away from the table and walk. They are all thin and eat what they want. They do not understand the overweight person and what we face each day. I hope this is the right decision but time will tell. My job is difficult enough without adding them knowing and talking about it. I am a Child Protection Investigator (Child Abuse) in Hernando County. I have been doing this for 4 years. It is in and out of the car, eating the car, in and out of very dirty homes and removal of children. The fear of being hurt by someone is always present. Thank God for the deputies that assist me in my job. Some days chocolate is the only things that gets me through it. I will have to find another stress reliever than chocolate. Any suggestions would be appropriated.
My husband has a kidney transplant and I worry about him all the time. Again chocolate is my balance. No stress here.
My hubby and children are supportive of my decision and are willing to help in what every way they can.
I have already made some friends on this broad and plan on keeping up with them and helping anyone else in this process. Pix to follow soon. I need to get the courage up to have the pix taken in the first place.
I will post again after the appointment with Dr J on Friday. I hope to meet some of you one day. A little smaller I hope.
April 22. 2007
Went to Dr. Jawad's office in Ocala on Friday the 20th.
This was my mother's birthday and turned out to be a good day. My mother left us 12 years ago and I know she would have been proud that I am finally doing something to keep myself alive. She was a wonderful woman and was always concerned about by sisters and I and our weight. She was a lucky one and never really had a weight problem. Us girls got our father genes.
Met Nicky, Kevin and Odallas (sp). The gave all the info that was needed to get things going. The rest of the day I spend making appointments for all the tests needed. Due to my age they added a Heart clearance. Everything is scheduled except the psy eval. I am having problems finding someone that can do it that is not out 8-9 weeks for an appointment. I will keep trying more that other people have suggested.
I feel the my journey is finally beginning. My family is behind me and very supportive.
I have an angel on my side as well. She has agreed to be my support at surgery. I want to continue to make friends on this forum and make a new life.
I am through being left at home and want to get back into life in a very big way. After reading alot of postings, I took a good look at myself. I realized that I have been staying a home and not being involved in my life. My job is stressful and can consume you, but that is no excuse for not having a life. It is time to stop feeling sorry for me and get over it.
With the help and support I get here and with my family I know I will be ok.
May 12, 2007
As of today all my tests are done!!!!! I have almost all of the Doctor records I need except one and they say I am in storage and they do not know when they will go to storage to get them. Well, maybe next time my checkbook will be in storage and you can wait for my payment.
Put I will have to live by thier rules to these last records. I will need strong therapy when this part is over.
May 25, 2007
All was submitted to insurance on Monday per Odalys. I checked with BCBS to make sure they had everything. Guess what, no one can find any record of the fax sent. Called Odalys and she called and got name to refax everything to them again. I will be calling BCBS everyday next week to make sure things are going along. This I am told is the hard part because you have no control at all on how long it takes.
Thanks to all my friends to help my along the way.
May 31, 2007
I am in shock, BCBS of Florida just approved me. I was so suprised. Maybe it was the threat that I would call everyday until they found the fax with my info and process it. I am on cloud nine.
Called Odalys and am scheduled for Pre-op on June 28 and Surgery on July 2nd. What a trip this last 6 weeks has been. My first appointment with Dr J was on April 20th and now May 29th approved. I was expecting to have a fight on my hands and today had gotten out my insurance book to find out how to appeal the denial. I do not need that info anymore. Hope other people have this kind of success.
June 2, 2007
One month from today! What a trip this has been. I want to start a photo journal as well. Just need to have hubby take pictures. Got the email for Lissette on the 1st and am ready to start the pre-op diet. Posted everywhere on the internet I was so excited about it. I know it was silly but had to tell eveyone I know about my date. I have made some wonderful friends on this broad and do not think I would have been this far so soon if not for them.
I have always been the one to take care of everyone else now I guess it is my turn to take care of me. Two people at work guessed what I was having and suprised me by being very supportive. We talked for about an hour about all of it. Maybe I did not give them the credit I should have but did not want to hear the negative stuff. But I was wrong they want to follow it every step now.
Feeling kind of lost now, nothing to do but wait and lose a few pounds along the way. I am planning on meeting old friends for dinner in the next two weeks. That will be a splurge for me.
Hubby is so great and supportive. He cannot wait to get his thin wife back that he married 36 years ago on the 19th. I told him it would be with a few more curves than at that time. He is ok with all of it. Just wants me to be happy with myself as well. What a guy I married.
Got some great advise and sources to get vitamins and supplements and going to start them now so I can be a little healthier at surgery time.
June 17, 2007
At my two week mark tomorrow. Now I must start the slimfast plan and stay with it. I know I have been told not to have the last supper but I have. I have been ok during the week but weekends are bad. Went out with old co-workers to Red Lobster yesterday. Got sick on the way home, too much butter and garlic I guess. Well, I will not be doing that again.
This time waiting I think is the worst. At least the other times I had something to complete, now it is just to wait. I have stocked up on jello and popciles. My daughter is coming next Friday and I know she will also shop if I need it. This week is my last full week at work.
A couple of people on my friends list have had surgery and are doing fine. Sometimes I am jealous because they are done with the surgery and on the losers bench already. I have never been a patient person. But I am also very glad for them as well. Going to be with friends at the pre-op as well. This board has been a life saver for me.
June 19, 2007
Well today is my 36th wedding anniversary. Did not do anything, on the Slimfast and one mini meal. Do not feel like going out. I mentioned before that my mother in law lives with us and she in not in good health. Hubby is her caregiver and I think he needs a break. We are putting her in a assisted living for the week of my surgery because we cannot seem to find anyone to trust to stay with her the two days we need without it causing problems. If we pay private and someone gets hurt while caring for her my homeowners insurance is hit for it. Mypremiums are high enough. Also she need almost round the clock care. I do not think he needs both of us to worry about. I do not seem to be able to help him with this.
Today at work I could not seem to keep my mind on work instead of the upcoming surgery. 2nd, 3rd, 4th ....etc throughts are coming into my head. Am I doing the right thing and than I think I have not other chose but this or getting sicker as I get older. Than it would be too late to have it because I am going to be 55 in August.
My supervisor also picked a fight with me about of all things the stupid FMLA paperwork. I told her the Dr J does not fill them out until after surgery. I also do not need to have this time off under FMLA unless I chose to. She started yelling at me and wanting the paperwork now and if my doctor did not care enough to protect my job than maybe I should not use him. I said it was too late to change now. Today is one of those days when I need therapy!!!!!!!!
A few more people at work have guessed what I am having and they are ok with it. They are supportive and that makes me happy, surprised but happy. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
June 24, 2007
Yesterday was not a good day in the evening. I wanted to eat everthing in sight. I made better choses but still overate. Well doay is a new day. I will be able to completed this day. I am at one week from surgery. 4 days of work left and the pre-op is on Thursday. I do better on this Slimfast when I am working. I need to keep busy on the weekends. Going to spend alot of today in the pool. My Son called this morning to ask how I was doing, if I was nervous or not. He is funny sometimes but is great. We laughed about old stuff and that brightened my day and made me look at yesterday as YESTERDAY. Today is new. My daughter comes on Friday and I am looking forward to that.
I have been trying to recipes out on the hubby and mother in law. Cottage Cheese Quiche was really good and she liked it alot. Hubby even had seconds. Real men do eat Quiche!! This recipe came from Dave Fonts, he is the first bariatric chef and he now has two books out. His website is not working all the way but I have found others of his recipes in WLS Style that I am going to try. Hope they taste the same after surgery.
June 25, 2007
Good suggestion from the board, write down now why I want to do this. And than when I wonder later on after surgery I have already answered it.
Okay, why I want to do this, the real answer. To feel better about myself. To be able to look in the mirror without saying or thinking bad things about myself. To be able to walk and work without the trouble breathing and to be able to get a promotion from work. Discrimination is alive and well. To really LIKE myself again.
June 28, 2007
Pre-op day. It was a very long and good day. Now I know exactly what will happen on surgery day and the next and feel like it will be ok. I need to know these things to feel in control of something. Meet face to face with friends I have come to know on this site. What a wonderful place to be at this time in my life.
My hubby, Kevin and Dr J got to talking and laughing about sex at my one on one and they were out of control. Made me see another side of the good Doctor I have not seen. Kevin wants hubby to attend support group, but I think I will ban him. It was good to find out the stories from all the other people. I really was nice day.
I did have to give the hospital every fluid my body has including the q-tip in the nose. But it is done. I am happy and feel very relaxed heading into the last weekend at this weight.
Oh! I have lost 10 lbs need to update the good old ticker.
June 30, 2007
Today starts my last weekend before my new life. I am very calm and relaxed. My Daughter arrived from Denver last night and everything is in place. My last day at work was long and busy, it seemed like I could not get anything done because I had so much to complete. I had planned on having my cases closed before Friday but in my job things change so fast.
Co-workers were very supportive and wished me well. Mary gave my a bag of stuff to keep busy. Little does she know I will be very busy walking and losing. Also she gave me a stuffed butterfly from when I come out of my cocoon. She is so funny and it was a very wonder gift. I am going to take it with me to the hospital.
I have made so many friends here and wish to thank each of them for being there for me.
July 1, 2007
Today is liquid day. I am going to keep busy. Laundry needs to be done for the week and beds need to be changed. I do not feel nervous today and am so sure of this decision. I have meet Linda and Gwen who are going to surgery the same day or day after. We have been sharing all out concerns together. Nothing more to worry about. Today is bright and sunny. Will leave for Ocala at 7:00am tomorrow morning and will return to a new life. That is really exciting for me. 
