Wendi W.

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Wow, 8 weeks have flown by.  I now weigh 216 lbs which is 36 lbs lost since my surgery day.  I am 21 lbs away from the goal that Dr. Kane set for me at my 3 week appt.  I have 6 weeks to go to meet this goal.  I have not had any complications since my surgery.  I have several co workers who go with me to the gym on lunch hour and we walk on the tread mill for 30 minutes.  I also have a co worker who will split a meal from our cafeteria at work.  That way she watches what she eats, and that means that I am not wasting anything.  

I am so sick of winter.  I hope spring shows up soon.

Well, it has been two weeks since surgery and I am doing pretty good.  I went back to work on January 7th, and I have not had any issues.  I am tired of pureed/blended food, I could cry.  To date I have lost 14 lbs.  I had pretty much been on a stall for the last 6 days, then all of a sudden the scale moved.  My kids bought McDonalds the other day, and I can no longer stand the french fries as they tasted nasty.  Which this is a good thing. 

Well, I had surgery on December 28, 2007, and came through with flying colors.  I had very little pain and no complications.  I had two OH members stop and visit me while in the hospital.  It was truly great to know that you have so many supportors.  I got out of the hospital on New Year's Eve and spent a quiet night at home.  By Wednesday, all the pain had gone away and I was doing more and more around the house.  By Friday, January 4, 2008, fluid had stopped flowing through the JP drain, so I called the surgeons office and they said that they could take it out today.  Now the only remaining signs of my surgery is a few bruises, and the steri strips across the incisions.  I had also started pureed foods on friday, with cream of wheat.  I love the stuff.  I have also blended up some chunky soup, refried beans with mild salsa and cheese, and chicken with mash taters and gravy.  Now my main goal is to start upping the protein.  Well I have lost 10 lbs since surgery.   It will be back to work for me on the 7th, and classes resume on the 8th.  So, 2008 looks like it will be a good year, as I will be losing the weight, and will be graduating with my degrees.

As I sit here, I just realized that I am spending the very last holiday as an obese person.  In some ways it is difficult to say goodbye to the old me, as I am not sure the thinner me will be any happier. I don't have doubts if I am doing the right thing, but I do have doubts in myself.  Yes, I understand that this is a tool, and if I use it to the maximum I will achieve my goal. 

Is there going to be anything I will miss, sure there is. But, the question to ask is it worth giving up the See's Nuts and Chews or the dark chocolate. Ask me later as I go through my grieving period.  There are several things that I am looking forward to.  These are to be able to wear my wedding ring, Shop in the misses department, and oh yeah wear things from Victoria's secret.


The presents have been opened and I have started cooking ham and butternut squash for our holiday dinner.  It is nothing fancy as it is just DH, DS, DD, and myself.  My DH and DD have to work a serving job tonight, so DS and I will watch movies and play games. 

Yes, I went for all my pre-op testing this morning, and I will be having surgery at 1pm at Alexian Brothers.  We had our gift exchanges at work today, and I got a photo album for my pictures, and a new bank which had money in it to start my new clothing fund.  I also got a new game to play while recouping on the couch.  My coworkers have been wonderful in their support.  

I got the big call today, and I have a surgery date of 12/28/07.  I have my nutrition/diet class on Wednesday, Ultrasound on Thursday, and Pre Op testing on Friday.  I have so much to do and so little time.  Everything is moving at lightening pace.  I have so many lists going of what I need to finish up at work, what needs to be done in the house, what I need shopping wise, and what to take to the hospital.

I was so calm up until I got the call today and I am a basket case.

Well, it has been awhile since I lost posted but as usual things get busy and so I just keep putting it off.  I had my consult with Dr. Kane, Jr. back on Oct 4, 2007.  He is very nice and I was very nervous.  Maggie handled my insurance, and was really good about it.  She contacted Tricare (my insurance) and was informed that they only things they need for processing was the request for authorization form, psyc. eval, and letter of medical necessity.  After two weeks of being in process, I called Tricare to see what the problem was.  I was asked about why I was using an out of network dr., and I had to explain this issue.  Then I was informed that there was items that needed to be submitted.  They needed a dietician consult, Hypolori, and Thyroid test, and pulmonolgist consult.  This took pretty much most of November to achieve. But, I got it done, and the paperwork was resubmitted on 12\7\07.  Then on 12\10 I was informed that they were still missing a 5 year weight history.  WTF!!! This has now gone beyond frustration. So on 12/12 I contacted the local Tricare Rep at the Navy hospital and explained the issues that had been going on and that I do not need to be treated in such a manner.  Low and behold this afternoon, I got the call and I am approved!!! Yes, I am approved.  Now I am hoping to get my surgery the day after Christmas, but if it does not happen, I will have to wait until March.  So, I should hear something tomorrow.  I have already made my appointment for my abdominal ultrasound, Once I hearf if my I got my Dec date, then I need to quickly schedule my Diet Information appointment and schedule my pre-op appointments.  Now, things are moving along finally.

Well, today I had an appointment with a pscyologist at the Navy hospital.  We talked for a while, then she was kind enough to do an eval for me.  I hope this will satisfy that requirement.  Tomorrow is my consult with Dr. Kane, Jr. and I am so looking forward to it.  I have been reading some more and rewrote my questions out so I could read them.  I am not sure what will be required for my pre-op testing, but I hope it is not too much.

If the insurance/bill person (Maggie) sends in my paperwork , I should have approval from TriCare by Monday or Tuesday at the latest.  This means that I am on track for surgery to happen prior to the end of the year.

I had a dream last night that I was at my consult and he told me I was not a good candidate....must be my nerves.

I so want to wear my wedding rings again, and to be able to wear the clothes that are currently in my closet.  Even though it may be a short period of time.  

I fought with Tricare and won!!!!! I got them to change my referral to Dr. Kane, Jr....

Well, this has been an interesting week.  On Thursday, August 30th, I had a follow up appointment with my PCM regarding my thyroid medication.  It seems that my body did not tolerate it.  It made me eat like a race horse and I gained 7lbs.  I brought up the WLS again because with this gain it put my bmi at 40.  He agread and gave me a referral to a bariatric surgeon.  Now, I sit and wait the 7-10 days for my letter from Tricare.  This waiting is going to kill me.  I started researching surgeons in my area, and it seems that there is only one bariatric center within my area.  I went to their website and registered for the free informational seminar and within two days I got a packet of information along with a dvd talking about the practice.  Now I hope that this is the same surgeon I get from Tricare.  Yesterday, I went to Borders and bought the Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies book.  I have started reading it and taking notes.  I want to be fully prepared to ask questions at any initial consults that I go to.  I am hoping to have surgery by no later than December, because if it is after the end of the year it will have to wait until March.

On the other side of things, I keep trying to carry a conversation with my husband, and it is like pulling teeth.  He says he loves me no matter what I weigh, and will support me with any decision that I make.  I tried tempting him in with when I am down to a thinner me him and I will go get tatoos together.  All he said "umhum".  Then I said I will let him choose a sexy naughty piece of clothing from Lover's Lane, or Fredrick's.  All he said was "umhum".  Wonderful, I now feel lonely and can not talk to anyone about it.  I don't really have any friends, my co-workers and my boss are supportive but this is not the same.  I want to find a person that I can meet for coffee, or shopping, or just sit and talk about everything and anything.