Trin2rilax Cheryl McCoy
3-3-2003**I turned in my application to the Surgeon today
3-7-2003**I was approved for entry into the surgery program. I have my date for the dietician appointment. The big question is trying to get insurance approval.
3-19-2003**I had my physical done by my PCP today. He did an EKG and ordered the blood tests. The EKG was not required but we thought that it should be.He made me an appointment with a psychologist to get that visit over with but I noticed on United Healthcare's website that he is not part of my network. So now I'm wondering if I should find a new psychologist or maybe this appointment is never covered by insurance. I wish I had answers to the millions of questions that come into my mind each day. Diets have never worked for me. I find it hard to believe that this surgery will. I read a lot of the profiles on this web site, I really wish they would post the ones that do not work too....so that I would know.
3-20-2003**I got authorization to have my Psycological evaluation paid by the insurance. They said I could continue to see someone everyday if I needed too. I might consider that. I might need the support thru this process. I wonder if the Psychologist will be sympathetic to obesity. I can't wait for the day when I do not have to worry about that in every situation.
3-31-03** I saw the dietician today and she acted like she would want me to go to classes for 12 weeks before I get surgery. These classes would teach me what I'm doing wrong in my eating habits. While I do not want to wait the 12 weeks, I do want to be successfull, so I guess I should do it. I guess if she wants me too, I have no choice anyway.
4-3-03** I saw the psychologist today. He seems to be money hungry. All he talked about was I had good insurance and he may need to see me a few times. I think he just wants me too pay for more visits. I'm gonna be really mad if this holds me up.
5-01-03**The psychologist wanted a test done that the insurance would not pay for because it was not medically necessary and OSU did not even need it, so I had to pay 340 dollars out of pocket to get his approval and not have to start over with another doctor. Once I paid this, he released my results to OSU and they are going to review it next week at their committee meeting. I guess the dietician appointments will come next. I think I will have to do about 12 weeks of classes, but I hope not.
5-09-03**I was approved today for surgury by the OSU. Now they will submit the paperwork for insurance approval. They recommended that I find a counselor to talk with as I go thru this process. They told me that I had to complete four weeks of classes with the dietician. That is FOUR WEEKS!!! I work full time, have two kids, drive an hour and half to work and operated two businesses...now this is really going to be a strain. Plus you can't miss and I travel a lot with work. This means, I will have to talk to my boss before I even know if the insurance will approve me yet. Oh well, if it was easy, everyone would be skinny.
5-15-03** FIRST OF ALL MY BABY IS 9 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!! And I got my insurance predetermination approval!!!! I'm going to ask on the message boards, because I do not know if this means its approved or not. It is only good for 90 days though and I still have four weeks of dietician classes. I think I read on someone's profile that this happened to them and they had to resubmit everything to the insurance. I also have to see someone for behavioral counseling. Not sure who to go to. I hope everything comes together.
5-22-03**Well I start my diet classes today. OSU told me that I should get my appointment date with the surgeon soon. They have me with a different doctor and I have not heard a lot about him. Except that he does a lot of the high risk cases. I'm going to check him out more He has had my chart since 5/2/03.
--ok, I found out that because of my weight they have to do open surgery and that is why they changed my surgeon because cook is the only one that does those at OSU.
5-27-03**I had my second diet class today. I really thought that I would learn more than I am. I pay for an hour and she keeps me about 20 minutes. I guess I will do research on my own since I have so long before I will get surgery. OH I guess that I forgot to mention that the surgeon cant see me until Aug or Sept and then it will be a couple of months till surgury....so I have a really long wait.
6-5-03**I had my third diet class today. We went over Phase II of the diet. I have to have a sample menu ready for next week and then I graduate. I have so long to wait until surgery that I will probably forget all I have learned. I am going to try and stick to the diet to get some pounds off. I have only lost 10 pounds in three weeks. I'm scared that if I lose this slowly that I will not be able to lose weight with this surgery. My luck I would be the one that it would not work for.
6-10-03**Well I have been trying to diet to lose weight before my surgery and I'm so hungry. I know it is in my head. I have to stay strong.
6-11-03** I had my last nutrition class today. So now I ready!! Just waiting now to get into the surgeon. I'm so impatient!! I can't wait for them to call.
6-29-03** Well even though I'm still playing the waiting game, I have done pretty well on my diet. I have lost 30 pounds right now. That got me down below one of my goals and I wish I could get down to my next one so that I could have lap RNY instead of open.
7-01-03**I finally have a consultation date. I go to see Dr. Cook on 8/7/03. Today I have my sleep study consultation just as a precaution and I have to have my gallbladder ultrasound on July 15. Things are really starting to move now. I'm starting to get a little nervous. I think that is probably normal. As of today I have lost 34 pounds. That is 34 that I will not have to lose after surgery!! I changed diets to the adkins diet and it is working but really hard to stay on. I have to say I LOVE BREAD. I must be a carbaholic.....but I have finally hit rock bottom and that is why I have to have this surgery.
7-10-03** Well I have been having no luck now that I changed to the Adkins diet. I have gained weight. I'm checking on the message boards to see what I'm doing wrong. I feel better though. I have stopped drinking pop, stopped snacking, stopped eating sweets, I try to drink lots of water and protein but my body just seems to want to be fat. I really sound crazy now, thinking of my body as a "third person." I think constantly of this surgery and spend a lot of time on this site. One day my weight will not be my main focus and I can focus on my real life....SOMEDAY!!!
7-12-03** Well I had my second sleep test. Wearing that mask is horrible. It made farting sounds all night and I worried that the tech would think it was me. Fatty in there farting away. Needless to say I didn't get any sleep. I missed getting to read the boards yesterday. I finally scanned in my pictures and emailed then in. I hope they will be posted soon.
7-13-03** Well I had a dream last night the when I went for my consultation they gave me a surgery date within a week!! That would be so awesome!! I hope this dream comes true
7-15-03**Well I had my gallbladder ultrasound today and it looks like I have gallstones. I hope this means that they will just take out my gallbladder when I have surgery. I don't want to have to be opened up again later. I also picked up my CPAP machine. They set it at a level 23. I'm wondering if this is about normal or high.
7-17-03**I talked to the surgeon's secretary today and told her I had gull stones and sleep apnea. She was really nice and said that I would probably get a surgery date quickly after my consultation. The surgeon has hurt his wrist so this may change things. Pray for me
7-16-03**I don't know about you guys but waiting for a surgery date is one of the hardest things I have went thru in my life. I keep getting assignments at work and I'm scheduled to travel and all I worry about is will I miss this or that if I get a surgery date then? Will I get fired? I also will have very little time to recover because I have so many tax and e-file classes to teach. I do not have a back-up person so I know that I will have to do it. There is a guy in West Virginia that can help me out but that is four hours away for him....I would feel so guilty if he had to help. He just had to cover for me last year when I was on maternity leave. I can't sleep at night with this mess swirling in my brain.
7-20-03**Well I think I may have solved the diet problem. I was skipping breakfast and I think this was making me go into starvation mode and holding on to weight instead of losing it. I am going to do my best to see if I can get in three meals a day. I am down 38 pounds now. It is amazing how much better I feel. I crossed my legs today. Really on accident. I was sitting and putting on shoes and my friend looks at me and he said "you just crossed your legs!" I did it and did not even realize it. Of course my legs are still way too big to sit like that comfortable but a few months ago, I could not even do it. YIPPPEE FOR ME!!!
7-21-03**They called an gave me an earlier consultation date!!! July 31st. YIIPPPEEE!!!! This must be my day!!
7-25-03**My doctors secretary said that my surgery should be the week of Aug 18 or Aug 25th. He only operates on Mon and Fri. So it should be 18,22,25,29. She can't give me a definate yet but she is pretty sure. I will be in Indy the weel of Aug 11-15. So I really have two weeks to prepare and get everything ready in case it is on the 18th. I should find out for sure on July 31st. I am excited but nervous at the same time. Do you sort of just have to take the plunge? There is really no way to know for sure that this surgery will work for me. I would love to talk to people who regret the surgery or people that it did not work for.
7-28-03**I need to post here what I just learned on Dumping so that I can remember it. Maybe it will help you too.
When an RNY person eats a food that has too many grams of sugar (or sometimes fat or even a high density of carbohydrates) the problem food is quickly passed along by the stomach directly into the intestines... the intestines sense a problem and try to dilute the offending food. Water is sucked from the bloodstream, sending the blood pressure plummeting and blood sugar levels skyrocketing... the flood of liquid into the intestines causes severe cramping, gas, and immediate and explosive diarrhea. The rapid drawing of liquid from the bloodstream, causes, dizziness, fainting and nausea. NOW... just because you eat a piece of candy with a gram or two of sugar and none of this happens to you... doesnt mean you 'dont dump'. Sensitivity to dumping can vary... it is thought that 5-8 grams of sugar at one time is fairly safe for most of us... HOWEVER, some people can tolerate more and some cannot tolerate even less. This is not a license to find YOUR level. RNY surgery can be done without creating dumping syndrome as a side effect... the surgeons CHOOSE to create this for us to give us an added tool to use to avoid sweets. WHY DO SO MANY OF US TRY AND RUSH UP TO THE LINE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO AVOID? Use this great tool to your advantage, and avoid sugar
7-31-03**Well today is my birthday and I had my consultation with my surgeon. He was very helpful and patient. I had four pages of questions, and he sat until I had asked them all. I know he is very busy, so I appreciate that he took his time with me. After I spoke with him, I had my blood tests and then got my date. On Aug 25th I will have my surgery. I really think that I'm kinda numb. This journey sure does teach you a lot about yourself. I do not have to do anything for surgery but show up. No bowel prep, special diet or extra tests. I have less than a month and most of that time, I will be out of town, so I hope the time goes fast so that I do not have time to get very nervous.
8-5-03**I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I spent yesterday school shopping with the family. I will be out of town again all next week. I guess it is a good thing that work is keeping me busy because I only have 15 days until surgery. I have not been thinking about it much unless I get a rare quiet moment and then I feel like I'm so unprepared. I still have that nagging feeling that this will not work for me. I need to have exercise motivation. I can't do a lot of stuff because I'm so heavy that it is hard on me and I need to save my energy to get through my next day at work. So the weekly challenge this week is to walk to work every day from the hotel instead of taking a cab. That should be about a mile. I challenge those of you at the beginning stages of exercise to do the same thing. Walk a mile everyday this week!! See you next weekend!!
8-17-03**
Well, I'm finally back home from INDY. I really had a good time. Even though I had to work! I walked a lot and make pretty good food choices. I can't believe a whole week is gone and now I only have 8 days till surgery. I feel so unprepared. I will be really busy this week at work, trying to get everything in order to be out for a few weeks.
Friday was my daughter Rhyleigh's first birthday. We had a party for her on Saturday. B-day parties are so much work!!! I'm wiped out!! I spent all that time cleaning and now it is a mess again. I went upstairs to the theatre room and some little lovely darling thought the big screen would look nice with icing on it.
Thanks for everyone's messages and well wishes, I really appreciate them.
Please think of me this week and on the day of surgery Aug 25th.
I will need all your well wishes and prayers. I feel so unprepared for this.
Thanks, Cheryl
8-22-03**I have surgery on Monday. I have a busy weekend coming up and not sure I will get to post again but hopefully I will. I do not have an angel so since I will be in the hospital four or five days and then probably will not feel like getting on a computer, you will not hear from me for a while. I really appreciate everyone's support and well wishes. I have been really nervous and your support calms me. Pray for me on Monday the 25th at 7:30. Cheryl
8-31-03**My surgery went well and my surgeon does the leak test while still in surgery so I forgot about that. After surgery I woke up and still had the tube down my throat because my oxygen levels were not what they should be. Once I got that out and got to my room, I could walk around and felt pretty good until night when I was in so much pain and I kept telling the nurse that I should be on some type of monitor becuase I have sleep apnea and I could feel myself gasping for air. She ignored me even when I cried. I could not have my family there because there were no private rooms available. I tried to use the phone in my drugged haze but could not figure it out. About seven that morining, I thought I will call my secretary at work she will help me. I got a hold of her and asked her to call my family because I needed them. My friend got there and made them make me comfortable. Then I fell asleep and he noticed that I was gasping for air. He ran to get someone and they could not wake me. They called code blue and brought me back. This really slowed my recovery. I had no energy after this. I thank God for my friend and secretary or I would not be here right now. PLEASE HEAR ME!!! IF YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA MAKE THEM PUT YOU ON A PULSE AND OXYGEN AND HEART MONITOR AND OXYGEN!!! It was amazing after I coded on them, I got a private room and all the monitors that I needed. They believe that I overdosed but you and I know that you are not suppose to be able to overdose on those happy buttons. They block you out when you had too much. So someone did something wrong. I think it was the combination of apnea and the drugs becuase after I had the monitors on, when they gave me pain medication and I went to sleep the alarms always went off unless they turned up the oxygen. Anyway, I'm home now and very sore and can't really get up and down much by myself. I will not be on the much becuase it hurts to sit up. I want to thank everyone that posted for me and gave me well wishes and thank you for your prayers. I will try to write more later. Cheryl
9-18-03**I seen the nutricionist today. The name of the game is that I need to get in more protein. My iron is low also. Eating is such a chore at this stage. So much thought has to be put into everything. I also need to increase my fluid intake. I still have diarrhea. I hope this gets easier soon.
9-26-03**For the first time in my life, eating is no longer fun. I really have no desire to eat. Everything I used to like tastes different now. Maybe because now I have to actually chew it before I swallow it. The testure of the finely chewed up food gives me the willies. It seems that I finally get something choked down and then it makes me feel sick for about an hour. I'm fighting the feeling of not wanting to eat at all. I can only get about four bites of anything in. How can I get enough protein in if I can only get four bites in? Protein drinks make me gag, my vitamins make me gag. What have I done?
10-13-03**I know, I know, about time that I updated my profile. I have been very busy at work and once I get home from work the last thing I want to do is sit down in front of a computer again. I would rather spend time with the kids. I am still getting used to my pouch. Nothing taste's good and I really would rather go without eating. Most people that I have talked to say that this stage does not last but I'm really disappointed in myself because I'm not getting in all my water or my protein. I thought that I would just do this perfectly. Well as it turns out, I have been eating what sounds good because everything makes me so sick that if I can keep something down then that is what I go for. I thought I would watch carbs but right now, I only watch sugar. I don't eat enough of anything anyway right now. I hope that soon I can get myself in line and have the mental power to take control of this situation. I'm starting to get grossed out by all the food people eat. I always thought that sounded so horrible when people said it before and here I am in the same situation. Keep me in your thoughts.
11-18-03**Gosh it has been a while since I updated. I know that you guys will realize what it is like though once you have surgery. It is like you finally have your life back and your hope back. I absolutely wear myself out doing things that I used to avoid. I still struggle daily with the mental aspects of this surgery. I have a lot to lose and even though I have lost about 100 pounds so far I still have tons to lose. It is hard to think about that because you want it all right now and it happens so slow that you think you will die waiting. I also struggle daily with the feeling that I am not eating the right things or this surgery is not going to work. I still don't know how to deal or get passed these feelings. Maybe they will always be there. Years of dieting and being overweight will make that happen I guess. I used to spend so much time on here reading others profiles but after you have the surgery you focus more on yourself, at least at first. All that energy that used to go to other people now has to be focused towards me so that I can succeed. I hope that everyone is doing well and is enjoying the shrinking ride!
11-22-03**I think that it is very helpful to set goals along this journey. I remember my first goal was getting under 400. I guess that it really scared me that my weight was that high and I just wanted to be rid of the 400 number as soon as I could. The second goal was getting under 350 so that I could be weighed on most regular scales. My next goal which I have not reached yet is 299 which is just wanting to get out of the 300's.
I still deal daily with fears that this will not work even though I know I'm losing weight. I have clothes that I need to get rid of but I seem to be hanging on to them. You all know how it is. Keeping the fat clothes because we might need them again. A good thing is getting to go shopping in your closet. Clothes that have not fit in a long time now fit me.
The hanging skin is horrible on my arms. Gosh that sucks! Get to lose weight and then have all this hanging skin. I know that I will have to have plastic surgery but I do not want to do another surgery. I guess maybe I will be ready when the time comes.
Good luck to all!!!
11-26-2003**I have to be out of town all next week for work. I never seem to lose any weight when I'm out of town. I guess it is all the eating out. My hotel is too far from the federal building to walk so I will have to drive so even more exercise is out. I am looking forward to being off the next couple of days for Thanksgiving. I miss spending time with my family.
I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving.
1-6-04**Well I finally reach my next goal. I'm below 299 at 298.5. YEAH!!! I need to focus more on cutting back on CARBS and keeping away from my old bad habits especially when I'm stressed.
2-19-04** Gosh it has been a long time it seems since I updated. I still come to the site everyday and read the Q&A section but I don't like the new messageboard, so I stay away from it. I have a lot more energy but the weight really comes off slow now. That was hard to deal with. You get so optimistic when you see the weight coming off fast that when it slows you are just sure that this surgery will not work. So again, I am playing the old head games. I still have a lot to lose. I need to set my next goal and just focus on that. Baby steps are easier to take.
I notice that I feel a lot better about myself. I do my hair and make-up a lot more than I used too. I have been spending way too much on clothes and wearing things tighter than I ever have before. I always wanted really big and lose fitting clothes but now I think those just make me look bigger and that is not the goal. Well good luck everyone!!!
3-3-04**I can't believe that it has been six months since surgery. My highest documented weight was 425. I know that it was higher than that but I didn't have scales that went that high, so I have no idea what it was. I had been dieting for four to five months before I was able to weigh in at the hospital at 425. I'm now 279. So since surgery, I have lost a total of 146 pounds so far in six months. I still have a long way to go and the pounds are really coming off slower now and I have to really work at it. I notice that I have learned way to overeat. I am doing really good at getting my water in but need to work on the exercise component. I started wearing clothes that were size 36 or 38. I am now wearing most things a size 26 but three pairs of my jeans are 24. I know that I have a lot of skin that will need removed. There is about four inches of skin hanging from under my arms. I have a lot more energy now. I don't have to go home and lay down anymore. I also have renewed my joy in shopping for clothes. Before it was just cover me with anything that fit and now I want to look good again. I had my nails done and my hair cut and have started going to the tanning bed. All of these things keep my spirits up and help me continue with this journey. I think that finding a good support group is really key. I know that I was not ready to talk right after surgery but now I am. I used to ask all the people on this site how they did everything and then I thought I had to do it that way to be successful. Now, I have realized that this is my journey and I have to find my own way and what works best for me.
3-12-04** I had my six month blood work done and everything came out fine. My potassium was a little low but other than that I'm doing good!
5-12-04** It has been a while since I updated. I can't believe how busy my life is now. I'm so much more active and I enjoy being active instead of complaining about it. I have started to use Curves to work out. I hope it will help me tone up. I spend more time getting ready to go out now. I'm wearing makeup more and having my nails done and have started going to the taning bed. The other day, I even had a pedicure. I am excited that I can walk as much as I want and not think about it or sit in any chair and not have to worry if I will fit. I went to Atlanta a few weeks ago and I did not need a belt extension on the plane! Plus I had to walk and walk and carry luggage and I was fine the whole time. I just kept thinking that nine months ago, I would not have been able to do that. I also was in a training class that had the seats attached to the desks and I fit just fine. Nine months ago, I would have had to ask for special accomodations. What a difference this surgery makes!!!
6-1-04**I had to help my parents move this weekend. I lifted and stood and cleaned and climbed. Amazing what I can now do but the kicker was that they moved just a few streets from their old house so I kept riding my daughters bike back and forth. ME ON A BIKE!!! And the tires did not burst! I'm sure it was a sight for the neighbors, but I don't care.
7-31-04** Today is my birthday and I am about 11 months out from surgery and have lost 200 pounds. I have made lots of changes in my life and I'm slowly trying to peal back all the layers of fat "baggage" that I had been holding on to. I feel really good. Physically I can do anything that I want. Sometimes I do things that even surprises me that I can do. I have some skin that needs removed but I want to get off at least 25 more pounds before I see a plastic surgeon about having it removed. I am working now more on the mental part of the journey. I need to be able to look in the mirror and see myself as I really am now and not the person that was 425 pounds. I know part of her will always be with me, but I need to also be able to see myself as I am now. I really need to work on my self esteem and accept myself as beautiful even with all the skin that I have. I need to focus hard on getting these last pounds off. I am going to try to go back on low carb. It sure is hard to get back on that diet once you are off. Once you are on, it gets easier to say no because some of the cravings go away. Well, I'm going to go enjoy my birthday! I hope all of you are doing well in your journey. Cheryl
9-14-04**Well not much has been going on with my weight loss, I am at a stand still. When I broke my foot I had to stop exercising so now I am getting back into that. I have been going to many of the Obesity Help events and I have enjoyed getting to meet others that have the same shared experiences as me. I have signed up and taken the training to become a group leader so that my support group can become an official obesity help group. I am really excited about that. I guess that I will post more when my weight starts moving again. Cheryl
10-20-04**It has been so long since I updated. Since my last posting I have had a plastic surgery consult. Let me just say that having your pictures taken while naked is not a fun experience in fact, I think it is worse than being fat! The fact that nobody in the office seemed to know how to use the camera and the fact that the camera memory would only hold 1 picture at a time meant that they had to keep me naked for 45 minutes and print my pictures one at a time. Nobody should be in a room with me naked for 45 minutes unless there blind!!! The very definition of bad naked...plastic surgery pictures.
2-26-05** It has been so long since I updated. I took a detail assignment at work that keep me traveling every other week for four months and it really was exciting but made my everyday life hard to balance. So needless to say, some of the things that just were not that important had to wait until I had some leisure time back in my life. My weight is still at a standstill and I dont know why really that it completely stalled but I want to get back on low carbs to see if I can't boost it so that I can at least get thirty more pounds off. I have been going to many support groups and OH events and have really enjoyed meeting people and getting more active in the weight loss community. There are so many people out there that you can either inspire or have them inspire you. I have been under a lot of changes in my life and I really think that the post/op support of others that have gone through this process is really what I need right now. I have not been exercising but I am active. I am hoping to get back to walking when it gets warmer. I hope all of you are doing well in your journey!!!
3-14-05** Well I started doing low carbs again and taking in lots of water and protein and I finally got the scale to move 10 more pounds. I now only need to get 11 more off to be under 200. I just can't imagine getting there, even being this close. I know that when I do, I will cry like a baby. So many exciting things are happening in my life right now. I am really truely happy!!!
6-12-05**I just wrote this to a new friend on this site and thought I would post it here on my profile too.....You and you alone are the only one that can decide if this surgery is for you. It is not for everyone, we all have different journeys, different bodies, different doctors, different metabolisms and different habits. This is a very major decision and you should take charge of it by getting as much information as you can. Quit lurking! Everyone here is fat inside and has or still is on the outside. Get involved in the community ask smart questions and stupid questions and questions that people have asked and answered a million times before. Get all the answers and read all the profiles and then make your decision and we will support you.
On July 31st 2005 I was married to Bo McCoy on board Emerald Princess Cruise to Alaska. To see our wedding pictures please go to. http://www.picturetrail.com/m2kguy.
