Tammyv
I am a mother of 2 beautiful and loving children. My son is 16 and my daughter is 14. I have a loving and caring husband that would do anything for me. Up until I had my children I was thin, and like most woman after child birth your body is never the same. Needless to say my body wasn't. I have struggled with losing weight and gaining it all back. In most cases I would gain back all that I had lost and then some.
I went through a stage in my life that I didn't want to go anywhere or see anyone because I simply hated how I looked. I am at my heaviest weight ever and I can't stand it. I simply want to be thin again. I feel like I am trapped in this shell and I wonder where I AM in there.
I am proud to say that I am a born again child of GOD and without him I am nothing, and with him I have it all.
I struggled within myself with even creating this page worried about what if someone that knew me reads this. I have now realised that what if they do it doesn't matter anymore. I am who I am because of God's loving grace.
As most of you know obesity effects you in so many ways physically and mentally.
There is a lady where I work that had this surgery done almost a year ago and she has been an inspiration to me. Just watching her progress and the excitement she has in her voice when she talks about her success.
I went to my PCP for an office visit over problems I was having with acid reflux and other complications, he started to discuss my weight and how I had gained 100lbs in 3 1/2 to 4 years and he was concerned with that. Not to mention that I was as well since I had just stepped off the scales and boy was that a reality check. I had avoided them things when I went to the doctors office as much as possible if they would let me by with not weighing I wouldn't. But this time I had to step on and except the truth. I needed to do something. As my doctor talked to me about this surgery I told him I was scared to do it and let me think about it. A month went by and I tried cutting back on my calorie intake and I just knew I had lost a few pounds, needless to say when I went back to for a check up only to find I had gained a few more lbs. it was after that I decided to persue this journey.
After being on countless diets and weightloss programs with little or no success and what weight I had lost only to gain it back I decided I needed to change my life for good and for my children and husband but mostly for myself.
I called my PCP office and told him I was interested in the surgery and he sent my referral to Dr. Davenport's office.
I called the other day to find out that it was a 3 - 6 months waiting period.
As time has passed very slowly it seemed I called Dr. Davenport's office and I have 10 people ahead of me now. I am getting so excited, but afraid something will go wrong and I won't get to have this done. Pray for me that everything will go good and I will be approved. I should be getting a call in Sept. for my consultation with Dr. Davenport.
Until next time~~~~~ God Bless each of you on your journey!!!!! 2004
8/20/04 Well it is getting closer to the time frame Dr. Davenport's office said they would be calling me for a date to come for my consultation. I am getting really excited more than I was if that is possible.
I have talked to most of my family and my parents are very supportive. My dad was scepticle at first until he found out my family physician recommended that I have the surgery. He has the same doctor and he has a lot of confidence in him. Once he found out that and just how miserable I am he was ok with it all. No one really knew just how miserable I am except for my mom and of course the Lord and he knows better then anyone. A few members of the family have made some pretty crued commments that I have just ignored. I'll let the Lord take care of them. I can't believe what peace I have with this. I did at first and I have been trying to loose weight on my own for a while and with no success and one day in church a lady in the church was testifying and out of no where she said Tammy you can't lose weight on your own. At first I thought where did that come from, then when I went to the doctor and he suggested the surgery and then it clicked. I hope that helps someone out there that maybe struggling with it. Just pray about it and God will lead you in the right path. Hopefully the next time I post I will atleast have a date of my first Dr. visit. Pray for me... God Bless until next time.....
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8-26-04 I called Dr. Davenport's office yesterday and I only have 4 people ahead of me now. I am getting so excited. I went to the doctor that put me on a diet with diet pills several times. He wrote me a letter of recommendation to have the surgery. He is such a compassionate doctor. Well I just wanted to share my latest news. I hope I hear from Dr. D's office in the next week or so. Until next time God Bless..... Keep me in your prayers....
8/30/04 I had to update my profile to say Rene S done a wonderful job on making it beautiful. I just Love it!!!!
We were in revival last week and we had a dinner on Saturday for the evangelist and his family and I got the opportunity to tell all my sister's in the Lord that I was planning (hoping to) on having the surgery. I was reluctant to even say anything but I can't believe the support I received from most of them. There was one who said don't you know people die from having that done! Well I didn't comment, I just thought well a little bit of education on the matter wouldn't hurt her, but I don't guess she realizes that people die everyday from Obesity and obesity related illnesses like heart disease ect... God Bless her anyway..
My status is still the same as last posting only 4 ahead of me. It may even be only 3 now I haven't called Dr. Davenport's office this week. I might do that later on in the week. I might just call once a week now to see just when to expect to get that first consult. I can't begin to tell you just how excited I am. Well til next time.... God Bless!!!!!!!
Keep praying for me!!!!!!
9/3/04 Well Praise the Lord!!!!! I called Dr. Davenport's office today and the receptionist told me they would be calling me very soon this month to set up an appointment for a consult in October. Oh my goodness 1 more month. I am about to just explode and I mean that in a two fold sense of the word. I am about to explode with excitement and I am about to explode litterally. LOL.. You gotta laugh sometimes about it or you would just totally loose it. I know I would not be able to handle all of this weight if I just didn't laugh at it even though it is nothing to laugh about. You know our minds work in a strange way to help us to accept certain situations.
I have had 2 doctors write me letters of recommendations so I hope that helps me get insurance approval. I know we shouldn't wish time away, but I hope this month isn't a long one or the Lord helps me with my paitence.
Until next time.... God bless each of you on your journey....
9/22/04 GOD IS GOOD!!!! Hello to all, I finally received a call from Shannon from Dr. Davenport's office today and I have my first consultation scheduled for October 21st. Oh my goodness you can imagine how excited I got. I was out of the office when she called and she left a voicemail to call back.When I checked my voicemail I got so excited, Oh my I was like a kid let loose in a candy store with no limit on what I could purchase!!!!! LOL.... I told my best friend Angie I was so excited I could run around the plant, but you know it was only an expression and not reality ( the running part)because I couldn't make it out of the office running before falling over. Oh Lord help me when I get that date for surgery, I will flip out. Oh I simply can't wait. I know the consult is a month away, but they say all good things come to those who wait. Lord please help me to wait upon on you!!! I just had to post my update. Until next time and God Bless all of you on your journey!!!!
10/25/04 God is wonderful!!! Well my initial consult is completed and I can't say enough about Dr. Davenport. Oh my goodness she was so nice and her staff was wonderful. Dr. Davenport explained everything to me and showed me in detail the procedure she would be doing. It was an awesome experience. I have to go tomorrow for my psych. evalution ( insurance requirement) I have to also see Kay Clatterbuck. She called today to set up the appointment I was at work and she left a message, hopefully I can get an appt. with her tomorrow also and get 2 birds with one stone. Dr. Davenport said I should be able to have the surgery within 3 weeks. Oh my goodness I can't wait. I have set and gave alot of thought about the things I would like to do after I reach the losing side and here are a few of them.
#1- I won't to be able to obey the Lord when I feel his anointing upon me and if I feel like jumping up and down I want to jump up and down and not feel bound.If he says run I want to be able to run, if I feel like dancing before the Lord with all my might then I want to dance before the Lord. Right now I can't do that because of my weight and I feel very self conscious about it.
2. I want to be able to hug my husband and children and hold them close to me.
3. I want to be able to tie my shoes without being out of breathe
4. I want to go on walks with my daughter
5. I don't want to have a backache or foot pain anymore
Just to name a few things, there are so many other things I want to do, but don't have time to write. I had to post my latest news. I am so excited, but getting a little overwhelmed too. I trust God with everything in me and I thank him for leading me to this journey. May God Bless each of you as you take this journey. ~~~Until next time~~~~ I want to give a huge Thank you to my Friends Lorna, Amy, Cathie, Stacie, and Dania for being so encouraging and helping me. You all have been great. Lorna and Amy you guys have been such an inspiration to me. Couldn't make it through this without you guys and most of all the Lord.
10/31/04 God is so Good!! I was able to see Kay Clatterbuck the same day I seen the pyschologist, I had to go back the next day to finish up with the psychologist and all that is behind me now. It all went very well. I am so excited, I can hardly wait until I get my date. I wanted to update to let everyone know that everything is going great. I am going to call Dr. Davenport's office tomorrow and see if Shannon has sent in my paperwork to the insurance. Until next time. ~~~ God Bless each of you on your journey!!!~~
11/10/04 God is still Good, he is awesome!!! Well things have not been going so great for me lately. Well I guess it could be worse and may not be all that bad I guess I have high expectations of how I would like for it to happen. Well I had to make what seemed to be a hundred phone calls between Dr. Davenport and Dr. Mariano's office just to get my psych evaluation report to Dr. Davenport's office. I finally had to have them fax it to me and I faxed it to Dr. Davenport's office. Then I called Shannon to make sure she got it and to see if she faxed in my paperwork to the insurance and she said she didn't have the paperwork from Dr. D to send with it and it wouldn't be until next week when Dr. Roxanne returned because she is out this week. Oh my goodness what a disappointing feeling. Everything has been going so great until now, I keep telling myself this too shall pass!! I have to believe and trust in the Lord that he will take care of it all. I guess I have waited this long I can wait a couple more days at least until Tuesday for Shannon to fax it all in. I am still praying there will be no issues with getting it approved and QUICKLY. I would like to have this done in the next week or so. I am even willing to give up the Thanksgiving dinner thing. Can you believe that?? I just want to feel better, my back and feet hurt me so bad, no one really knows the pain that I suffer because of it. Please keep me in your prayers, I pray that God bless each of you abundantly through your journeys!!!! Until next time!!! God Bless
12/13/04 Hello to all, God is still good and he is always awesome!!! Even when we go through things we don't understand. I had some really good news, I had a date for surgery scheduled for Dec. 20, 2004 only to have the insurance call me today to tell me that they are going to require me to go through a 6 months Dr. Supervised weight loss program. They said I didn't have to go to a Dr. to weigh in every month,just join weight watchers or something like that. I have been to a Dr. over the past 3 or so years on several different occassions and was on a weight loss program and diet pills even though it wasn't 6 months consecutive it should still show an attempt to lose the weight, but the insurance said it wasn't enough. I can't begin to tell you how badly I want this to happen. I will just have to wait on the Lord!! Even though that is hard sometimes I have found that he is an ontime God, maybe not my time but certainly in his time. I am persuing the weight loss supervision with my family physician and maybe the Dr. I went to that had me on the diet pills, whatever it takes to make this happen. I am going to call Dr. Davenport's office tomorrow and ask her advice on it and see if she will help me appeal it. I know this too shall pass!!! God will make a way!! Keep me in your prayers and I pray that God bless and keep you through out your journey. May you have a blessed Christmas holiday. ~Until next time~ God Bless!!!!
12/22/04 Praise the Lord!!! I wasn't going to update my profile until I knew something for sure, but I wanted to say a few things have happened since my last update. I called Dr. Davenports office to ask Shannon her nurse if she would ask Roxanne to write me a letter of appeal for the insurance. Shannon said she would, but that Dr. D didn't typically do that. I recieved a call from Dr. Davenports office the other day and they wanted to know a fax number they could fax me the letter Roxanne wrote for me to appeal the insurance decision. I got so excited again after being so down over everything. I also talked to my family physician and he is writing me a letter to state that it was him that made the recommendation to me to have the surgery and all his thoughts and professional opinions and my overall health. I also have a letter from my diet doctor and he wrote a very good one for me. I have alot of problems with my feet and couldn't even begin to spell the names of what they are except I know I have heel spurrs on each foot and tendon problems in my left one. I had went to a pediatrist last year over the pain and went back today and she wrote me a letter to my insurance explaining all the issues my weight had caused on my feet and other potential problems I will have if I don't loose weight and she agreed that gastric bypass would be great for me. Everything is looking good as far as all the support I have received from my doctors. I am going to type a letter to the insurance and explain my situation and put some personal thoughts in it and send it along with all the other letters and just pray, pray, pray that the Lord will take care of it. I really wanted to have it done this year, but oh well next year is my year as a good friend told me the other day. Thanks Lorna & Amy for your support, and you both are just the best when I need someone to talk too. It is getting late, but I wanted to update the events. I pray you all have a Blessed holiday season and remember "Jesus is the reason for the Season". Merry Christmas!! Until next time !!! God Bless!!!!!
1/1/2005 Happy NEW Year to All!!! Praise God for every blessing!!! I wanted to update and let you know I wrote an appeal letter of my own and had 4 letters from all my physicians to go with it and sent them all in on 12/29/04. A little unsure of how long an appeal process takes, but hopefully I will hear good news soon. Just wanted to let you all know if there is someone who is going through the same thing as I am. Don't give up, keep fighting. It will be worth it all. Just wanted to update. I pray God's many blessings on each of you!!! Until next time!! God Bless!!!
2/12/05 It has been sometime since I have updated. Just to give a brief summary of what has been going on. I sent in my appeal letter and the insurance still denied it, said the only reason they were denying it was I didn't show 6 months consecutive weight loss attempts with a Doctor supervision. So I had went to my physician in August 2004 to get back on the weight program and my 6 months will be complete the end of this month. I will resubmit my request at that time and pray that everything will work out for my good this time. I am trusting in the Lord he said he would see me through. keep your heads up and Trust in God he will make a way where there seems to be no way. I will update once I hear something. Until next time ~~God Bless You~~
Future Update
4/7/05 YES YES YES YES!!!!!! Oh praise the LORD!!!! I have finally been approved for my surgery. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!!! AMEN
I justed wanted to post that I have been approved after a long long journey. But to all of you who maybe going through the same thing keep hanging in there it maybe rough and stressful, but the benefits are going to out weigh any of the trials. I am so excited I can't wait for this incredible journey to begin on the loosing side. I can't wait to feel better and walk without my feet hurting me until I could cry. I love the Lord and without him I couldn't have made it through this journey with the insurance. I just had to post and share my good news. I pray for all of you who maybe on this same journey that God give you strength and enduring power. Don't try to make this journey without the Lord you will be selling yourself short if you do. He is the greatest friend I have or will ever have. May God truly Bless each of you on this journey. ~~~~~ GOD BLESS~~~~ Will post in a few days with my date!!!!!
4/8/05 I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!!!!!! My surgery is scheduled for 4/25/05, I can't wait. God is truly a Good God!!!! I love him and I thank him for his goodness and mercy. I just had to update. God Bless you all. Will write more later, have to go and fix dinner for the family.
4/24/05
Well it is that time almost, and I am getting so excited. I am so looking forward to be on the loosing side. It all seems so sereal it has been such a long journey for me and for it to be tomorrow seems so impossible. But I serve a God that cannot fail me and I trust him with everything in me. Thank you to all of you who have sent me your support emails they have all been so great to read. The support from others is wonderful. Well since i have to be at the hospital at 5:15 in the morning I better go and get some rest ha like that is going to happen. Well I will update on the loosing side. God Bless you all in Jesus wonderful Name!!!!
5/19/05 Praise the Lord everyone!!! God is so good. Sorry I haven't updated since my surgery, well I tried once during a thunder storm and the power went out on me and I lost my update. So I thought I would drop a few lines to say that I am doing wonderful and so far I have lost 20lbs. Yeah!!! But I seem to be stuck at that. That is a little discouraging, but this too shall pass. I have no regrets even though I have been sick a few times, (no vomiting though) just sick at my stomache. It passes in about 20minutes though. Will update soon, I go back for my 4 week visit next week, so we will see about my progress then. God Bless you all on your journey!!!!!!!
6/7/05 God is still good!!! I have to say this is one incredible journey. I would have never thought it could be so hard and what I mean by that is my doctor requires me to drink 64 oz. of fluids a day and atleast 50 - 60 grams of protein. This is not an easy task to accomplish in a days time. I try very hard to get in the protein and fluids but some days I get close to one or the other but not both. Other days I do great on both. You really have to stay focused on these two very important tasks. You have to work hard for what you want in life and this is no exception. I weighed 2 days ago and I have lost 27lbs. which is great but I have sometimes wondered did I go through this for this little bit of a weightloss and what if I don't loose anymore weight. My surgeon has assured me that I am doing everything right and that I am right on target. She knows best because she is the best surgeon in my opinion. And most of all I know that the Lord has everything in control and he promised he would not fail me. I am starting to see a major difference in my clothes they are really baggy. I just wanted to put in writing some of the things I have been going through and some thoughts for those of you who maybe considering this journey. It's not easy, but do I think it is worth it, absolutely. But I wouldn't recommend you do it alone, I wouldn't do it without the Lord by my side. He has got me through it all and I couldn't make it without him. Blessings and Encouragement to you all!!!! God Bless in Jesus Name!!!!
8/1/05 God is good all the time, All the time God is good!!!! It has been a while since I updated I know but I just haven't had time. I have now lost 45 lbs and doing much better. I had a bad spell with dehydration a few weeks ago, but after getting IV fluids I have been doing better. Remember to pump in your fluids or you will be like me and look like you have been in a train wreck with all the bruising I had from trying to get a vein to put the IV needle in. The nurses tried 3 times before ever finding one that would work. It is hard to drink the 64 oz. a day and the protien but you have to do your best. I am not exactly happy with my weight loss at this point, I feel like I should have lost more. I guess I am expecting way to much. It has only been 3 months so I guess 45lbs isn't too bad. I guess when your fat for so long you just want to be thin just like that. Well that just isn't going to happen. Well I hope everyone is doing great. Remember if you are considering this incredible journey don't make alone, take Jesus along with you. He will stick closer than a brother and he will make all the difference. Remember to smile because God loves you and so do I. Till next time, God Bless!!!!!!
11/10/05 Hello everyone, I know it has been a long time since I posted. I thought I would drop a few lines to let everyone in on my progress. As of today I have lost a whopping 75 lbs. It has a very slow process for me. Overall though I am doing great. I still don't eat much, and I still don't get in the amount of liquids I am suppose too, but close. It has been an experience so far that I would do all over again if I had too. God has been so good to me, and I trust that he will see me through to my goal. Until next time, God Bless!!!!!!!!!
1/12/06 Praise Almighty God!!!! It is a new year and I am a new person. Well actually I have almost lost an entire person. I have lost 94 lbs so far since my surgery. I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel. The entire process has been very slow I think, but Dr. Davenport which is the very best surgeon ever says I am doing fine and she is very proud of me and my weight loss. But you know one would think after going through such a major surgery to lose weight it would come off faster. Anyway, just so you will know this does happen, the slow weight loss. Don't get discouraged if you are going through the same thing. It does come off eventually, stop thinking about it so much. I believe that was my problem. I have 30 more pounds to lose to reach my goal weight. And only 6 pounds to reach the century club. Wow!!! God is great, don't think that if you asked for his help with this journey that he won't answer because he will!!! I am a living testimony!!! God is so good!!! Well enough for now, I just wanted to update since it had been a while. I am almost to the normal range on my BMI Whoohooooo!!!!!!! God Bless you all!!!!!
7/8/06 Blessings to all of you!!!! I know it has been a long time since I posted an update but it is so easy to get on with a normal life after WLS. So I am sorry for not keeping my profile updated. I know how I use to feel when I was keeping up with someones progress while I was trying to make a decision. I will try to do better. Well I am doing great and feeling wonderful. I do have my moments when I eat something that i shouldn't. (sweets) not suppose to do the sugar thing, but you know I still crave it sometimes. But I don't eat too much of it, just enough to satisfy the craving. I have lost 133 lbs all together and i am wearing a size 12 in jeans and a size 8 in dresses. Well that is a major accomplishment since I was in a size 22/24. I have to say that it has been such an amazing journey and I am so thankful that I found out about WLS. I found myself, I was lost inside the person I become. It has been 1 year and 3 months since I had my surgery and if i had to do it all over again I would in a heart beat. I would still recommend it to anyone that was considering having it done. But don't do it alone, have Jesus with you by your side and seek him first for the answer. He will answer he did me... God bless in Jesus Name!!!!
5/4/2007
I know it has been such a long time since I stopped by and updated my profile. Sorry for not keeping it current. But the awesome news is that I am doing wonderful enjoying life again. Doing things that I couldn't before and enjoying this new body that I have. I can bend over and not be gasping for air. I can walk without any back pain and foot pain. God has been wonderful to me and i give him all the praise!!!! I have lost over 130lbs now and I am wearing anywhere from a size 12 to size 8 depending on what it is and how it is made. I have a lot of excess skin too, so that plays a big part in how my clothes fit and what size I need. To all of you who maybe considering WLS be encouraged it is well worth it. It has made a positive difference in my life. Till next time and i will try to do it soon. God Bless you in Jesus Name!!!!
