Suzanne M.
My BLOG
Feb 23, 2007
About me:
Work: Full time, if not more....
Kids: 2 teenagers, son 15, daughter 15 (not twins, just close together)
Husband: 1 (love him much.....he's been great this whole time)
Hobbies: Going to the kids activities. Both are athletes. My husband coached baseball and football from the time my son was 6 until he was about 12. Then we just helped or sponsored teams as needed. I love my kids and all their friends. I never cease to learn something new from them all.
Started Weight Loss Journey: August 2006
Insurance: Aetna EPO
Aetna Prerequisites:
*4 Nutritionists Visits 30 days apart
*1 Psych Eval
*3 visits with a Nurse Practitioner discussing goals/weight loss pre-surgery. 30 days apart
*1 Sleep Apnea test
*1 return to the Sleep Lab to get the CPAP machine regulated etc.
*5 year history of chronic obesity (documented by my regular doctor - I've actually been going there for 8 years, so she gave them 1 document from my chart for the last 8 years, AND my documentation related to bad back, neck issues).
*pre -surgery diet journal counting carb, protein, fats for the entire time I was seeing the nutritionist
* walking regimen 15 minutes a day twice a day, if not more.....
* I detoxed from sugar from August - November. Did not go cold turkey, bought products with less and less sugar until I didn't miss it. Ate minimal chocolate, but it was the highest cocoa content and pretty bitter.
* started eating protein first, veg second, water constantly.......
Surgery Date: 2/13/07 7:30am USMD Hospital Arlington TX
Doctor: Richard Carter
August 2006 - I weighed in at my General Practitioners office at my highest weight of 275. Requested referral to a bariatric surgeon's office.
End of August - Was referred to AIGB (American Institute of Gastric Banding in Hurst TX)
August - November 2006 - Completed Aetna Prerequisite Dr's visits etc. AIGB Submitted letter to request surgery around Thanksgiving time.
December 2006 - 1st Denial letter is received. Aetna did a mass denial assuming all patients had not done the 4 nutritionists visits...I had done my 4th, so AIGB re-sent the paperwork.
January 2007 - Received the approval letter. 2 days later, Surgeon's office calls.
First Week of February, 2007 - Meet Dr. Carter. That same day, I go to USMD (same location) and go through all of the pre-op hospital tests which consist of blood tests, blood pressure, ekg, chest xray.
February 13th, 2007 - Surgery Date
Amount of time off work: 2/13 - 2/23. 9 days
Clear Liquids:
clear broth
water 60 oz daily
jello - sugar free
Popsickles - sugar free
Creamy Liquids:
SF FF Yogurt
gerber baby foods (meats pureed - added garlic pepper to taste)
gerber baby foods (veggies - not sugary ones....)
Cream of chicken soup
Cream of chicken with mushroom soup
water 60 oz daily
Mushies: Started on 2/23/07
Ate mashed potatoes, covered in cream of chicken soup.
3/1 Started on real food. Mostly lean chicken. Lunch is usually canned chicken, small tsp of mayo and some crackers. I drink water constantly it seems.
4/1 I've dropped down to a size 20. WOW. Eating small portions, mostly protein and it seems to be working.
4/22 I'm down to a size 18. Only 2 sizes larger than when I was married. I've been eating MET-RX Protein Plus bars for breakfast to ward off hunger because I don't get a fill until first week in June. I try to eat small portions, but restriction isn't there, so I'm dieting basically at this point.... Frustrating to say the least, but I can get through this.
5/29 I'm in a size 16. The weight is coming off. I await my first fill June 4th.
6/15 - Still a size 16. After the fill, it feels like I could eat and eat and eat. I don't know what happened. Maintaining is kind of hard, but I'm going to double up on the number of scoops of protein powder in my shake and get a grip. I posted new pic's yesterday and I hate taking pictures. I don't look that much smaller but I feel allot smaller. I'm trying to stick to the high protein type meals. I know I need to kick up the exercise so I don't hit a major plateau, so that's just what I'll do. I haven't come this far to fail.
