XOoOoVEEoOoOX
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Sunday, August 20, 2006
Hello, My name is Veronica, I’ve been on this journey to have WLS for 5 years already, I have gone through the whole process of pre-op testing, seminar-going, insurance letter writing about 3 times now, always to have my company either change insurance carriers or to be denied due to exclusions, I really have to say that this process sucks, its like they WANT us to stay unhealthy forever. Well this last month my final straw broke, I went to Islands of Adventure in Orlando and couldn’t ride the roller coasters because I DIDNT FIT! It had have been one of the most humiliating things I have ever gone through, Now I wont say that my family hasn’t supported my decision about having surgery, because they have, they just haven’t been to helpful in getting me on my way, that is until this happened...let me explain, this week my father pulled me aside and asked me if I was still interested in having the surgery done, I (obviously) replied with a very enthusiastic yes, AND THEN...the most magical words I have ever heard in my WHOLE life were spoken, My dad offered to co-sign the loan for me to have gastric bypass!! This is no small feat folks, I had been after him to help me a lot in the beginning and he always said no, I had applied for a loan by myself but was declined ( not that I have BAD credit, but according to the credit companies I don’t have enough history...well hello..Im 21 I got my first credit card at 18...how much experience can I have?) That’s not fair and a whole other rant so back to the point. At this time I have already contacted the doctors offices (actually two, I did not like the office staff at the first doctors office, they always seemed rude and rushed, doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, especially when all I needed was to talk to someone who could direct me to what financing company they use) So I remembered that about 3 years back I went to a seminar of Dr. De La Cruz at Mercy Hospital, and I loved it! (Not to mention that I love Mercy Hospital, in and of itself. They directed me to American Benefit Financing, this company can give me the loan for the full amount of surgery, but the approval is only good for 30 days, unfortunately, exactly y 30 days from now I will be in Orlando again taking my 2 beautiful nieces to Walt Disney World for OUR birthday celebration(birthdays are niece 1 Aug 23 turns 4, Niece 2 September 23 turns 5, and myself September 12, I turn 22) So I have decided that as soon as I return from vacation (I'm talking probably the same day or the day after I will apply for "the loan", I know that I will be missing ALOT of work after that ( pre-ops, consultations, surgery, recovery) and am a bit worried about that because I have only been working there for about 4 months ( will be 6 months at the tentative time for surgery. So if all goes well I will be having surgery sometime in October, just in time to not let myself gain weight over the Holidays. So people wish me luck please that all these plans go through!
Tuesday, August 22,2006
So today was a pretty boring day at work, lately I am finding it so hard to concentrate, which just makes my job harder...thank goodness for IPods though, music has always helped me concentrate better. I am kinda tired of my job I work about 25 miles from home (in Miami that’s ALOT, especially taking the 826 from 103rd all the way to US1 or as I like to call it the Useless 1 and then to go down about another hundred blocks! ugh.. I need to find a better job closer to home. That will be on my list of things to do after surgery. I think I'm getting borderline obsessive over this surgery though, everything I do I think "How would I feel if I were doing this AFTER surgery". Even though for being so obsessive the only people who know that I am having this surgery 4-sure are my Mother, Father, and Step-Mother. I haven’t told ANYONE else not even my best friend, for fear that I might jinx it, lol...Ive been really thinking of all the little things I want to do, I have even come up with a not-so-little list of things that I can’t wait to be able to do. And now without Further Ado My Top Million things (ha-ha j/k not a million more like, 999,999 things, seriously I do have quite a little list though.) Some things I cant wait for I cant wait to be able to buy 3 pairs of jeans for $40, no matter how cheap those jeans are, cuz for plus sizes any SEMI decent pair of jeans (even the cheapest kind) start at AT LEAST $25 I want to buy one ridiculously expensive DESIGNER outfit cuz, hell, designers never make anything for the rest of us Pooh sized folk I cant wait to wear dressy heels and not have my feet look like a Turkey wrapped too tight in twine. I can’t wait to sit and have my stomach go in not out. I cant wait to see a picture of my face from the side and see a difference my chin go in at my neck and not just kinda slide into it. I want to be able to go to the gym and not do the treadmill with my eyes closed because I can’t stand the look of my thighs rubbing together in the mirrors! EEK!! I want to STOP hearing "what a Pretty Face you have....if only blahdy blahdy blah (we all know how that one goes)" I want to go shopping with friends for MYSELF for once. I never go shopping for myself with anyone because I don’t want to have to utter out loud what size I wear. And I want my butterfly tattoo the one I told myself I would get once I lost the weight as a sign of my metamorphosis from ugly caterpillar to beautiful butterfly (and before anyone gets worried, I already have a tattoo so it isn’t a right of passage thing, just a tattoo I have been saving in my heart for that special moment) I want to know what its like to ride a Roller Coaster as a normal sized person and not so squished in my seat that I would need a lap bar to hold me in, lol I want to be able o cross my legs I want to wear shorts without my thighs getting irritated Oh well If anyone has taken the time to read all this THANKS, I hope that someday this profile will come to inspire someone hoping to have WLS just as many other profiles have inspired me! Until Next Time :) MUAH!
Tuesday, August 29,2006
So today Tropical Storm Ernesto is making its way to Florida, were not too worried about him really, it doesnt seem like its going to be that bad. I did have to go to work this morning (the most asinine thing ever, go in at 10 o leave at 2, but better than working till 7 I guess). Still on the same boat about surgery, just playing the waiting game until I can apply for the loan, the only other thing really that I have been considering is, instead of trying to lie to my boss and get two weeks off, I will wait a little bit longer to apply (postpone it about 3 weeks) and save money in the mean time, once I apply I will continue to save money and give my notice two weeks before my scheduled surgery date, this way can take my time to recover and find a new job when I am ready. I dont really know what to do, because I dont want to tell my boss what surgery I am having, but need at least two weeks off, and since my job is in B.F.E. I am afraid that driving there after surgery is going to be hell. Besides that I am tired of my job. I left a job that I had just a few blocks from my house because of all the Bull I had to put up with, my best friend informed me of this position in the company she works for, and she said she is extremely happy. Unfortunaltly she works in a diffrent department and didnt know about all the crap that goes on. I feel like an idiot for leaving, yes Im making more $$ but really on $2.00 more an hour and with the gas I have to pay its more like only $1.00 more, and Im dealing with alot of the same BS, if not MORE than I did in my other job. Not to mention I had been with that company for 5 yrs so I had seniority over alot of people, had already accrued vacation time and all that good stuff and now I am at the bottom of the totem pole....grr I think I just want to get out of the Automotive industry and try something diffrent. I guess this surgery makes me want to change EVERYTHING that I dont like thats going on in my life, I want to take charge and live my life on MY TERMS, Well until next time :) Anxiously awaiting the first day of my NEW LIFE :)
Friday, October 6,2006
Wow, I went the whole month of September without updating? What a shocker! Ok well let me update you a bit on whats been going on. I went to Tampa for Labor Day with my mom, her boyfriend, my sister and her 2 girls. We went to Busch Gardens and had a good time, unfortunately I started feeling bad after we came back, the following Friday I decided I couldnt deal with it and tried to find a Doctor to see me, but apparently no doctors work on Fridays. So i took a nice little trip down to the emergency room @ Palm Springs Hospital (specializes in treating old people lol) Turns out I had Bronchitis YUMMY! So I finally recuperated from that and then it was time for that vacation I mentioned earlier. I went with my sister and her 2 girls and 1 boy to Walt Disney World for 4 days, I had alot of fun, Disney is diffrent when you experience it through the eyes of a child. Since then I have been pretty much working my butt off...I have worked 6 days a week since then. Just trying to save $$ for my surgery. I was thinking I might change surgeons to one that is here in Hialeah, his program is more expensive but includes pre-op testing and a great after care program including nutritionist, psychologist, physical trainers, and a years worth of vitamins, so in the long run it might work out to be better :) I have been to one of his seminars about a year ago but the young girl i spoke with (Dianelys) said I may want to come to a more recent one just in case. ok people I have to go know, im using a work PC *GASP* and really must leave before I am caught.
Wednesday, October 18,2006
So I had the day off of work today, it was nice to have a day to relax. I had to go pay a ticket though. (apparently driving with and expired tag is BAD, and mines was exired by almost a year!lol) I have a seminar tomorrow at Palmetto Hospital for Dr. Sosa, lets see how it goes they only finance through Capital One and I am kinda scared, that, after all this anticipation my father may not get approved for the loan for the surgery, I know its probably just my nerves but, I really WANT this to happen. I want to be on the "loosing side" well everyone I dont have much to update about, there really isnt a whole lot going on in my life besides that. OH WAIT! yes there is, my best friend has announced her engagement, she is getting married in January! Thats another reason I am pushing to try and get the surgery done now, I dont want to be totally fresh out of surgery for her wedding and be getting sick all over the place, also I hope to be able to buy a dress and not a tent..noone will use my dress as camping gear. ok, so NOW Im done with my update. I'll probably write again tomorrow or Friday on what happened at the seminar. Love, Vero
Friday, October 20,2006
Ok, so I went to the seminar last night, filled out my paperwork for financing..Guess What ?!? I got a call this morning telling me I was APPROVED!!! APPROVED!! Oh man, i cnat sit still, I am almost in tears writing this, Its like a dream has finally come true! I have wanted this surgery for so long, and finally it is going to happen!! my hands are shaking as I type this!! Im so thrilled! There is only one catch, the procedure is $18,500 and I was approved for $16,500, so I may have to come up with the diffrence of $2,000 , but I can definetely do it!! Oh man everyone wish me luck, ! I feel like this is a dream! I LOVE YOU ALL!
♥,
Vero
Saturday, October 21,2006
Good news! My father called Capital One, seems they misread the fax from Dr. Sosa's office, so they moved the approval up to $18,000 so now all i have to save for is "just in case" money *knock on wood* hopefully I wont be needing it.I have my appointment with Dr. Sosa and the surgery coordinator on this Thursday, so that should be when I find out my surgery date. My baby brother is moving to Michigan on Tuesday, and we are going to take him out to a goodbye dinner, Si I will probably update soon, definetely by Thursday.
♥
Vero
Thursday, October 26,2006
Well I went to Dr. Sosa's office to set up the schedule of surgery, I spoke with Yanet, who is a sweetheart, but unfortunately today is her last day,Her replacement is Dianelys, I have spoken with her on the phone a few times and she is really nice also. So th BIG news today is.... I HAVE A DATE!!! My re-birth day is going to be Monday, November 13,2006....only 3 short weeks away!! AHHH!!! Oh my goodness! I am so thrilled. The protein samples I ordered just arrived to the house, I dont know if I should start trying them now or just wait till after my surgery, since as they say, our tastes change, what I think is yummy now may not be as good after the fact. Ok everyone..I have to go to work now just thought I would drop in with the great news!
♥,
Vero
Tuesday, November 7,2006
Ok So I had a VERY busy day today. I woke up about 6:30, just from nerves! I had to go to Dr. Sosa's office to pick up the disbursement checks from Capital One, from there I had to go to the hospital for registration, which included signing alot of forms and getting my blood pressure taken, nothing too exciting. I then had to go see the nutritonist, I dont want to sound like a smart ass but I pretty much already knew everything that she was explaining. I then had about 2 hours to kill before my psych eval so I came home, put away laundry and dusted my room, checked out the forums, then went to my psych eval, it was uneventful. I am done with all my pre-op testing so I can take it easy until Sat. when I start my liquid diet. I think I am getting a cold :( the doc told me I could take a tylenol cold and congestion so I bought some and took my first dose about half an hour ago. I am so exhausted. I guess I will update soon, hopefully before surgery. Okie Dokie Everyone!! :) take care
♥,
Vero
Wednesday, November 8,2006
HELP !! I think Im getting sick :( I had to take more Tylenol Cold & Congestion this morning, I havent really felt well today, but I think its just a cold, plus stress, plus my friend "TOM" came to visit and I am mad! My friend is ALWAYS late, so I figured I would be safe, well for once he showed up on time! Grr. I also have ALOT of work to get done before I go and I just dont feel like doing it..Someone out there motivate me! ..... I drempt about my surgery last night. I drempt the whole process, arriving at the hospital, being wheeled in to surgery, being given happy gas and waking up after the fact....I have never had a surgery before and am kinda starting to freak out...like I cant think straight my mind is racing!! Ok well only 4 more days till my rebirth day....
♥,
Vero
Monday, November 13,2006
Well according to my countdown I have approximately 54 minutes until surgery, I am at home, dressed and packed and ready to go (the hospital is around the corner from my house. I am incredibly nervous right now! OK just thought I would leave a mini0update before I left for the hospital.Also I want to thank everyone who has sent me a little note or message of encouragement, they really do mean alot to me and I REALLY appreciate it! Thanks everyone I ♥ you all~
♥,
Vero
wednesday, november 15, 2006
It is now 6:00pm and I just got back from the hospital, I wont lie and say Im feeling great, but Im not feelinf terrible, I am in a good amount of pain, not excruciating pain, but those people who say this doesnt hurt are either liers, or extremely lucky, I have been doing a good bit f walking (even walked myself out of the hospital,(no wheelchair for me Thank You! Just thougt would update and let everyone know tht I made it home safe. I know the spelling in this post hasnt beent to good, and frankly I dont feel like going back and correctin it lol. Good Night Everyone!
♥,
Vero
Tuesday, November 21,2006
Alrighty, It has been 9 days since my surgery and I can say I feel ALOT better, Everyone says that this surgery is a piece of cake doesnt hurt and all that, well they lied. I was in PAIN for at least 5 or 6 days. I am feeling much better dont get me wrong, but it did hurt. But now that I am feeling better I thought I could describe my hospital stay. I arrived at the hospital at about 5:45am nervous as hell, I went straight to the sign in desk at the surgery center, wich already had about 5-10 people in it, and was the first one in line for sign in. I waited about 5 minutes with my father and step mother before they called me back to the pre-op area. In the pre-op area I was told to get completely undressed and put on the gown, blue hair thing, and booties. I waited there until about 9:00 or so (to be honest the time FLEW by, because they were setting me up with the IV and compression boots and all that stuff.) I remember being wheeled into the surgery room. The bed I was on was inflated with some air and the whole bed, with me on it and everything was moved over to the operation table. I remember them taking my arms and straightening them out on these extension things, putting a gas mask on my face and then...I woke up in recovery. I still had the breathing tubes in and my hands were tied down ( i was told beforehand this would be the case.) Let me tell you breathing tubes are not comfortable! I remember bering cold and the recovery nurse covering me with warm blankets...oh those were like heaven! Finally the tubes came out and I was in recovery for about another hour or so, they then wheeled me to my room where my family was waiting for me. I was thirsty, my throat hurt,I was in pain, but I was happy. I was in shock that I actually did it. To be honest I kinda still am in shock, In some ways I feel like nothing has changed in others I KNOW it has b/c the old me would NOT be able to make it through the day on as little as I am. Even though when I eat I feel Like I am eating ALOT, cause it takes me so long to get anything down. it takes 40 minutes to eat 4 ounces of jello for gosh sakes! And I couldnt even finish my soup last night and there was only 3 ounced of that. (and it was yummy too). I had my one week check up with the surgeon and nutritionist yesterday and I am down 15 Pnds!! Thats great :) Well thats all I got to say for now. Take Care!
♥,
Vero
Friday, November24, 2006
ok Im on a real downer, I already posted this up on the message board so I think I will copy it onto here cus I dont feel like typing it out again:
I had surgery (LAP RNY) on Monday 11-13 from the date of surgery to this Monday the 20th I lost a total of 14 pounds. since then I havent lost a thing!! I mean I know that eventually the weight loss will slow down, and that there will be periods of time when I dont lose weight, but are those times supposed to come so soon affter surgery? I am Doing everything my nutritionist has told me to do. I am currently on full liquids, drinking PLENTY of water, and moving around. Why am I not loosing weight? Is this NORMAL ? I am so sad and getting frustrated that all this pain thatI am going thru is for nothing! :( Someone please re-assure me.
Ok so Im sad and I gues going through the depression that everyone talks about, I just feel like this might not work, that I may be one of the unlucky few who dont lose weight from this surgery! I cant stand that thought!
Sunday, December 03,2006
Ok so I was freaking out a bit on my last post. My weight really likes to mess with my head. Since my last post I have gone down to 245lbs for a total loss of -24lbs. Yay me! I have learned that the weight loss will stall and then drop all at once, it did it this time over night lol, I think that constipation was the culprit though, It appears my once VERY regular system is going to be requiring some coaxing in the for of Milk of Magnesia to work. Ive been at 245 for about 3 days, Im not stressing it though, I havent pooped since Thursday so that is probably why. On a good note, about 1 week b4 surgery I had to order a bridesmaid gown for my BestFriends Wedding I ordered it a size smaller than what I was at the time ( I was a 22 ordered it a 20) I went to go pick it up today and they asked me to try it on, guess what? It FITS, its actually a little loose along my boob area, so Its going to need some MAJOR alterations, I was in shock, I didnt think it would fit yet, since I still cant wear my jeans from b4 surgery (they button right at my belly button so it bothers the stitches I have there, and they wont close comfortably)
Another tidbit is I have my appt on Thurs with my nutritionist to move on up to soft foods hopefully, let me say HALLELUJA! I am so sick of soup and pudding and water, thats basically what I am living off of. Lets just see what they clear me for. Supposedly I wont be cleared for full foods unitl right before Christmas, lets do some math folks Ive been on a liquid diet since the 10th of November that is 1 month and 12 days without REAL food, boy that is a VERY long time, presurgery I wouldnt have made it. Hell having hasd the surgery is the only thing that has kept me from gorging on cheese and crackers while watching the Dolphins play, from stuffing my face with turkey and stuffing, from eating pizza (my brothers and sister have had Pizza every saturday since I started the liqiud diet. thats just torture!) I mean I have REALLY wanted it, really wanted to cave in and take a bite, but then I think about what the consequenses could be, busting a staple, dumping, or geting sick but not being able to puke it out. Im glad I decided for RNY over LapBand, because I KNOW that if I didnt have to worry about dumping i would have been a VERY BAD GIRL. I wonder how much longer the thought of dumping will scare me away from trying things, I actually like the thought that there will be hell to pay if I "cheat", I hope it keeps me on the straight and narrow for a while to come.
As for my vitamins I am doing really well about taking them everymorning, what I have been slaking on is my protein, cus I just cannot finish a whole protein shake, it just wont happen, it wont fit into my stomach. So I have been taking Proteinex, which IS NOT the best tasting stuff in the world, but it gets the job done in the quikest amount of time. I am supposed to be taking 4 tablespoons 3 times a day (2 tbsp = 15 grams protein) But I usually leave it at once or twice. so maybe I would loose faster If I got my protein in better. I dont really know. If anyone out there knows of a way to take protein that doesnt involve drinking more that 4 ounces at a sitting and doesnt taste like CRAP please let me know. Once Im cleared for real food I hope to get most of my protein in from the food anyways and use the drinks and medicines as a back up.
Also, I have had a cold this week, I thank my lovely brother for coughing up a storm all over the house, he infected EVERYONE! so I left work early on wed for feeling icky and some REALLY bad pains on either side of my abdomen, Turns out I was running a fever of about 100 (for me thats high as my normal body tem is about 96.8 - 97.0) I had to take Tylenol cold and congestion and sleep, and sleep, and sleep. Thursday I woke up still with the cold, but not running a fever and in ALOT of pain, so I called my surgeons office and they told me to come in, apparently the pains were "healing" pains from the muscles and they are "completely normal" So I still hurt (guessIm healing up REALLY well), I take tylenol if the pain gets too bad but its been manegable. The only other complain I have is severe nausea in the mornings, no i'm NOT pregnant, that would require a little more fun that what I have had in a while, so unless Im the next incarnation of Immaculate Conception, then nuh uh, thats not the reason. I really dont know what causes it though, I usually have to sit up in bed for about 5 minutes before standing or else I get so sick I feel like puking. The feeling usually goes away in about 10-15 minutes though, so I dont know what it could be. If anyone has any ideas let me know fo sho! Ok people I think I have wrtten MORE than enough to make up for not writing for 2 weeks, so, lets see what big milestone I hit next!
♥,
Vero
Friday, December 8, 2006
So whats the biggest new going on in my life? I quit my job :( I gave them notice till the 15th. I really wasnt happy there, and then some stupid stuff happened on Tuesday and I got furious so I gave notice. Now I have to find another job, I *desperately* want to get out of the automotive industry, So I have sent in applications to local banks, and to Carnival, and to Palmetto Hospital, so lets see how everything goes. I am scared that it might take me a while to find a job, I am very broke right now, and really dont want to stay without health insurance, but I just cannot stand my job anymore. On the good news side I am down to #242 thats a total loss of #27 Yay for me, thats in less than a month! I have been moved up to the soft or semi-solid food stage now. I have 2 weeks of this stage b4 I am cleared for everything . This stage isnt so bad so far though. I am having trouble with my Protein, the Proteinex is really making me GAG, I dont know what to do :( I cant drink a whole protein shake ...THERE HAS to be another form of Protein that I can actually stand :( If anyone out there know please let me know! okie dokie thats all ive got for now so ByeBye Everybody!
♥,
Vero
I NEED A JOB
...thats pretty much my whole update and whats going on with me, Ive been looking for a decent job...PLEASE let me find one!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Ok, so I suck at updating my profile...Ive been MEANING to, I come by the OH page quite often actually but I never get around to updating my profile..Im a loser, I know. Well as an update, I finally got a job back in January. I work for Wachovia now in the Credit Card Call Center, things are ok there, Im not getting paid as much as I used to, but this job has great benefits and more opportunities to advance. My weight right now is about 203 so thats a loss of about 66 pounds in almost 5 months, most people would be unhappy about that but, I have to say when in my life have I EVER lost that much, much less in only 4 and a half months? As for measurements? Its true what they say, in the time period where you are not loosing weight, you are dropping inches like crazy, I have gone from a size 22, pushing 24, to a size 16! I am able to shop at Old Navy now so that really excites me, whats even better is that their size EXTRA anything is too big, I am using a Large and in some shirts even a Medium, yeah I know their clothes run big, dont rain on my parade :-P As for my supplementation and excersize? I am TERRIBLE, i have NOT been excersising, I am taking vitamins, but only managing about 40-50 grms of Protein a day ( I was doing even WORSE on protein for a while b/c I couldnt get it down, protein shakes make me sick!)I am not taking my calcium nor my iron supplements...go ahead bash me I need it! My social life is changing a bit, I am actually enjoying going to clubs and stuff, I still feel like I look ackward though. Well thats the updates that I have for now. In the mean time here are some recent pics (some from this weekend and some from about 3 or 4 weekends ago)
Until next time!
♥
Vero
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