Here is video of me in the surgery waiting area before having WLS surgery!

Hello my name is Jen.

Thank you for visiting my page!! I am a 34yr old and have been seeking WLS for years now. I grew up pretty chubby but I wasn't really obese (god i hate that word) until I after I had my kids. I am 75lbs heavier right now than I was 9 months pregnant. I am 275 lbs. I have a serious thyroid problem. When I first was diagnosed my level was at 71 when it's supposed to be under 5!! My doctor was shocked. It has taken me 3 years to get it level but I take a very high dose to do that. My doctor told me that when she put me on the synthroid that I would lose alot of weight but it didn't happen. I was so dissapointed because I have been uncomfortable for a long time. At this point in my life I don't have alot of other health problems other than lots of swelling and body aches. I am blessed but I know if I don't start doing something about my weight I will start getting more and more problems.

I am a 34yr old single Mother of 2 kids. My son Tom is 16yrs old and my daughter Annastacia is 15yrs old. Their father has no involvement and hasn't seen them in about 12 yrs. I am fine with that and they have probably benefitted by not knowing him. I live in Richmond and it's a very small quiet town. I have only been out here 3 yrs but I love it already.

7/1/06
I have been on this site for about 2 yrs reading and reading people's profiles and I hadn't made my own page. But I realized that I wouldn't have made it thru the approval process without this site and it's members. I want to thank everybody that has a site and posts messages in the forum. It's so nice to know that I am not alone in this journey. I especially want to thank Jackie (you know who you are) and my best friend Melanie. Jackie has recently had surgery and she has helped me with so much info to get my surgery approved!!! My best friend Melanie is 2 1/2 yrs post op and always is supportive of me and shares her ups and downs with me. I luv her so!!

7/1/06
Now to catch you up on what I have been doing. I tried to get approval about 2 yrs ago via my regular insurance which was John Alden. They not only denied me but they have a part in the policy that no weight loss help of any kind would be covered. So I pretty much gave up on them and started researching paying for it on my own. Then I started to get carpel tunnel at work and had to have surgery for that. I was off work for about 6 months and when I went back to work they treated much differently and changed my shift to evenings. I have teenagers and I have raised them soley on my own so there was no way I could work at night. This is a point in their life where they need direction the most. So anywayzzz I ended up quitting my job and after about another 6 months of interviewing I wasn't getting hired anywhere. I have never had this problem before. I was getting responses like "you are overqualified", "would standing all day be a problem?", or "you left your last job because of carpel tunnel? what about your other arm" Then I started to get the feeling I wasn't getting hired cause I looked lazy. This I am not!!!! But I really think they didn't want to hire me because of my wieght and it would be problem to them on their insurance. Eventually I was forced to get public assistance....this was very much a humbling thing. I didn't think I would ever have to do this but here I am on public assistance. I have only been on it basically about 3 months and BOOM...already approved!!



9/29/06
Okay soo I haven't updated in awhile but I will try to do my best to continue my story. I have been approved for my surgery but had some things they requested me to submit before I could get an actual date. I had to have a letter from my PCP, Counselor, Pshyciatrist, and have a sleep study. I was quickly able to submit the letters from the doctors but had to wait for the sleep study appointment. I had my first one done and she had told me that I may have restless leg syndrome but she didn't know if I would need to come back or if I qualified as having sleep apnea. But I needed to go over the results with a Pulmonologist. Of course I couldn't get an appointment for at least 3 weeks. Finally I was able to meet with the doctor and sure enough I had sleep apnea AND I guess I snore sooo much I basically never fully fall asleep. Sooo He suggests I get another study done to fit me for a CPAP. Again....cannot get in for 5 weeks this time for another study. UHHHGGGG!!! So I finally get in for that study. The lady hooks me all up and I slept the whole night without even waking up to pee. I was shocked. After finally getting my CPAP machine 3 weeks after that I have recieved my date

drum roll please............

..............

November 3rd, 2006 Yea!!!

Diets I have tried...:(
Jenny Craig
Weight Watchers
Atkins
Cabbage Soup
Dr Phil
Oprah
South Beach
Richard Simmons

and last but not least

Starvation!! I kn

7/10/06
Okay sooo tonight is my sleep study. I have posted in the main forum on what to bring and expect.

I am bringing.....

My own pillow
Pj's
Hat for the gooey head afterwards
Book to make me sleepy
Toothpaste and toothbrush <<
My own light blankey

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