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 ~ ME ~ I am a 29/mother & friend. I reside in San Antonio Texas and am beginning a wonderful weight loss journey. I have two beautiful children. My mother is my hero and my in-laws are angels on earth. My family is great and seem to be very supportive at this time in my life. And my friends are WONDERFUL!!! I believe in our life time we meet people for a reason... so I cherish all the friends I have. I live life everyday to the fullest and thank God for every day on this earth. My children are my world and I want them to have a very healthy, educated & strong willed mother to learn by. Please send me a friend request and lets learn from each other. :) Come check me out on MySpace.com [email protected] or Facebook.com http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=661915078&aid=94081&s=80&hash=bf9b2962e6c6ef5f48382a98502fda3a#!/traci.mitchell1

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11.28.06 ~ Weight Loss Seminar ~ I went to the free WLS seminar today @ Weight Wise of San Antonio. It was amazing! I was able to sit and listen to an actual surgeon discuss the actual procedure and all the different types of WLS available. Dr. Duperier was the name of the surgeon. He actually talked about 2 hours and took questions. He also had some patients come and talk about their weight loss experience (and they all looked amazing!) . I just couldn't wait to sign the dotted line and get started myself. I scheduled a consultation December 7th @ Weight Wise 7:30 am. I'll check in again soon!

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12.13.06 ~ My Trainer/Doctor Apt. For Sleep Study ~ I met my trainer today. His name is Charlie & he is totally hot! He seems to know what he is doing. He has a college degree and is very personable. He is young and full of energy. Which is exactly what I need. We sat and discussed what type of exercise program I will be on for the next 6 months. I will be doing cardio 3x a week for 30 min on my own. Which won't be hard cause that’s what I do now. Then he and I will meet 2x a week for 1 hour. I am super excited and ready for this transformation to begin!!! The Gym is AMAZING! At the Weight Wise Clinic of San Antonio everything is brand new and latest technology. I just can't wait to use the treadmill with the flat screen television built in. :) ~ Also, I went to my S.N.O.R.E apt. @ 2:30 pm. This company contacted me through Weight Wise of San Antonio to conduct my sleep study. I arrived at 2:30 pm and sat in the waiting room filling out paper work for the office file. There were 2 people in the office doing the WLS I was with Weight Wise of San Antonio as well. We all started chatting and discussing each of our cases... it was kind of cool. I then got called back and placed in a private room and had my vital signs taken by the medical assistant. The Dr. walked in and asked me some questions about snoring and how many times I wake up at night. Told him my problems about waking up and loud snoring and he then prescribe me a CPAP unit to help with that problem. ( A device that is placed over the nose and pushes air through the air way that is causing the snore. ) I then received my CPAP unit and was taken through a 45 min demo of the unit. It is covered through my insurance! Any how, I was then scheduled to do the sleep study the next night at Weight Wise of San Antonio.

 

 

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12.14.06 ~ Sleep Study ~ I was scheduled to arrive at the Weight Wise location in San Antonio (Huebner Rd.) @ 8:00 pm. I arrived at 7:10 pm just a "little anxious" and was led into a section where there were 5 rooms down a very large hallway. It was beautiful, kind of like a hotel suite. I was led to my room and was told by the sleep study tech (Joseph) to go ahead and change into night clothes, fill out a couple of forms and he would be back to begin the process. I shut the door and turned on the TV to watch survivor (couldn't miss that). The bed was a queen size, 2 feather pillows (A+) and nicely decorated, with 2 windows that let me see my car right outside. I had changed into my clothes and the tech came in and asked me to sit on a stool while he put the tape and wires through out my scalp. The tech asked that I take off my glasses and sit still ( which I did right in front of the TV... Grey's Anatomy was on by this time). I really had no idea what he was doing. He began to explain how placing the wires on my head will read all brain waves and brain activity through out the night. He then placed the EKG wires along my chest and shoulder to read my heart rate. Next, he placed a device around my nose and mouth. (It was a real thin wire. It went over my ears to keep it in place. ) I was then told that the wire had sensors that could measure the amount of air coming out of my nose and mouth. 45 minutes later the wires were all gathered together and connected to a small box that is about the size of a small picture album. The box was placed under my pillow and a small wire was taped to my finger to read my oxygen level. The tech let me know that he was down the hall and he would be able to evaluate me through the infra-red camera hanging in the corner of the room. He said if at anytime I need to use the restroom or needed some assistance he could hear me through the speaker system, all I had to do was speak and he would reply. ~ Lights Out! ~ I woke up at 4:50 am. I felt rested (but I did wake up through out the night) and ready to get all those annoying wires off me. The wires were removed and I was asked to fill out a sheet about the night. Example: How did I sleep?... Do I remember any dreams?... How many times did I wake up?... etc... I was in the parking lot and on my way home to take a shower by 5:05 am.

 


5.07.07 ~ Ok guys... I know it has been forever since I have updated so here we go... My WLS is covered 80/20. GREAT!!! Now all I have to do is a 6 months documents diet regimen... Which I have been doing for 5 months now. I have 2 more visits with the nutritionist at my surgeon’s office. So this is what I understand... Once I have completed all 6 months of nutritional meetings @ Weigh Wise (surgeon’s office) they will then submit the paper work to the Insurance Co. and THEN.... we will wait for a DENIAL or APPROVAL!!! We'll see... As for my weight loss the Dr. asked for prior to surgery is finally starting to show... I started at 314, went to 320... back down to 312... =O) 2 more months to go to loose a total of 15 lbs. I THINK I CAN... I THINK I CAN!!!

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6/9/07- Hello everyone... Well here we are today. I have heard from the Weight Wise clinic that my Insurance Co. DOSE NOT COVER WLS. eeeeggghhh!!! I have been going to see the NUT. for 4 months now and have been preparing myself for this all year. So, I had to go to my Trust Fund Officer and ask for them to approve the funds for my WLS. I submitted the proper documents yesterday and will wait for an answer.... My trust is for Medical and Educational needs ONLY. So, I had my surgeon and one of his colleagues write a letter to the trust dept. and I myself wrote a letter expressing the necessity to have this surgery. So, now we have to wait. I really think that there will not be much of a problem getting this approved. But, I guess I won't know until I get an approval. I'm super anxious. I am attending summer school until July 26th so maybe I'll know before then. Wish me luck!!! =O) I'll let you guys know what happens!!!

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6/5/07~Trust Fund Part 1

I really need some help! I need to write a letter which will be presented to a trust committee, who will then decide if I NEED a $20,000.00 operation to better my health. The terms of the trust are for Health and Education purposes ONLY! I have asked 3 Dr.'s to write a letter of recommendation. And I have to write a letter myself expressing to the committee the necessity for WLS. Please help if you have any suggestions or advice for me... Has anyone here gone through this as well???

 

6/15/07~Trust Fund Part 2

As I expected...the self written letter (which was a sample insurance letter i got from OH), & 2 letters from Dr.'s concerning my health and morbid obesity. Were STILL not enough to have the MEDICAL & Educational Trust Fund pay for my Gastric Bypass operation. I spoke with my Trust officer on Fri. (she had received all my paper work the previous Fri.) Her first words to me were... " you do realize this is a big life style change...." "NO SHIT!!!," I said.... (*just kidding, I really, really wanted to though.*) =O) She asked me if I had considered the Lap-Band. I quickly explained to her the reasons I choose to have the Gastric Bypass. She explained to me the Trust Committee needed additional information before this could be paid. (Remember, this money was left to my mother, me and my brother in a trust from my Great Aunt who had no children and A LOT of money, enough for 100 Gastric Bypass surgeries... do the math.) She continued to request that I get a letter from my mother & brother giving their approval for the surgery & a letter from my Primary Care Physician (again) explaining the importance of this surgery. EEEEGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! She went on the let me know that their (The Committee) main concern was my health and if I die.... (*cough... bullshit*) I quickly mentioned how the surgery was ok to have when the insurance was paying for it. Then I explained how I had been doing research on this surgery for over 2 years now and was prepared and ready. Then she replied that I present ANOTHER letter, explaining my research and continuing education on this surgery. So I am SUPER FRUSTRATED!!! But extremely proud of myself for remaining very professional! I will have this week to get

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2/5/08 - I'm Back!!! Ok here we go...
I have learned TODAY the Trust will cover the funds for the Gastric Bypass... But call me weird... I might have changed my mind. I have been fighting with everyone about whether or not this surgery is the right thing for me. I am super confused and have put soooo much effort into having the procedure and changing my lifestyle forever... but now I'm not so sure what’s good for me. Everyone I know has some horror story to tell me about their sisters, best friends, mom who... had the Gastric Bypass done and had complications and little or no weight loss / weight gain. Maybe I should have the Lap Band procedure? I have always said NO to the Lap Band because the research has always said that the gastric bypass has better weight loss and quicker results. I super confused... I could use some support ... right ....now.

 

 

 

8/4/08~ Ok kids!!! Here we go again!!! I am scheduled to have Gastric Bypass surgery August 20th 2008! My new life is right around the corner. I have a new surgeon, (which I super stoked about) my last surgeon staff couldn't get their shit together enough to keep me there as a patient. But Dr. Patel is great! I am about to go on my liquid diet and see well I handle that. My current Health Insurance (United Health Care) covers the surgery 80/20. So all that bullshit with the trust was a waste of time and energy... (see why it isn’t that special) I’m back online and looking for RY patients to shadow! Keep in touch guys!

 

9/6/08~ (9/3/08) today I had surgery (RNY) I had to kick the date back 2 weeks due to family issues, but I did it!!! I feel horrible. I’m home now... I have a pain ball attached to me for a week... I had an "ok" experience with the hospital staff... there were a couple of nurses that were ass holes, but not too bad. I spoke with my surgeon the last day I left and told him the pain level was horrible and that I don't know if I made the right decision... he reassured me that I did and to give it a couple more days before I make that decision... I guess he made me feel a bit better but not much... I'll check in soon!!!

 

10/3/08 ~ Ok so a month out and I feel pretty good! I am not eating much if anything, and trying super hard to drink my protein drinks… down 30 lbs and I can totally tell… This has been a very interesting experience… I kept telling myself I was ready mentally… I guess you never really are until you do it… Lots of changes… LOTS. I am really not hungry ever… but I want to eat in my mind… Kinda weird I know… =) Well I’ll check in again soon!!! =)

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11/13/08 ~ Well, I'm Officially down 50LBS!!! I swear like it was yesterday I couldn't even barely walk straight... But now!!! Friends, and family are telling me really nice things! I am only going to lose more! =) Gastric bypass is the BOMB! =)

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About Me
San Antonio, TX
Location
23.7
BMI
RNY
Surgery
09/03/2008
Surgery Date
Dec 11, 2006
Member Since

Before & After
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Friends 69

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