beachbum6264
June 16, 2004
I can't believe that it's been 3 years. 3 years, and a whole new life. I have started on the next stage of this journey, plastic surgery! I could have lived without it, I was very happy with the way I looked, in clothes. Out of the clothes, forget it. I still felt FAT with all that skin hanging, it didn't look like I felt it should look after having lost all that weight. So I decided to do something about it. I figure I spent $20,000 on a new car to drive a few minutes every day, why not spend the same amount on a body I have to live in 24/7? So... off to the plastic surgeon I go...
On April 1 I had 2 hernias repaired, my gall bladder removed, and a lower body lift (for those who don't know what that is, think tummy tuck, but all the way around your body!!). Wow, what a difference 11 pounds of skin makes! My tummy is now FLAT. (check out the pictures at: http://public.fotki.com/beachbum6264/plastic_surgery/
What do you think?)
Round 2 comes up TOMORROW! I'm having a BL/BA, getting my arms done, and some lipo on calves and knees. I can't wait, getting the "girls" back where they belong!! And the size they should be, too! Then I'll be done.
I still have a hard time going into a store and picking up the size that really fits me... now I'm a size 8. I NEVER thought I would ever see that size on me in my lifetime. But here I am, and I love it. Of course, I have nothing that fits, all last summer's clothes were 10 or 12, so off we go shopping..what a shame!
So, 3 years later people have asked "Would you do it again?" Would I, HECK YES, in a second. No doubts, no thinking twice, I'd do it over. But, I've been lucky, never been sick, no complications (unless you want to count hernias and bad gall bladder, but that just got me my TT, so that's OK!!). It's been a pretty easy journey for me.
Sept. 7, 2002
WOW! I made my goal, to wear size 12 jeans. Took another vacation, this time my dh got to go, too. 10 days at the beach, pure heaven. Only bad part was having to check out and come home. We stayed at a great condo place in Orange Beach, Alabama (near Gulf Shores) called Sea Chase. What a great place, I'll go back there for sure. There is an Outlet Mall about 12 miles away, and I had a BALL!! It is sooooo much more fun to shop for size 12 than size 28. I tried to be good, cause I knew that we had to take all 4 kids back home with us and I couldn't fill up the van with clothes! (not all 4 are ours, we have 3, one is in college, so the other 2 each took a friend with them).
I'm still doing great, still never been sick, never, ever, not even once! I'm losing slowly now, at 15 months out, but still losing. Walking on the beach every day helped tone up the legs better than walking on the road in my neighborhood. I guess that's because you have to grip the sand with your toes. It's also much more fun!
I'm posting a pic of me in my new size 12's below. What do you think?????
June 19. 2002
3 BR/ 3 bath condo on the beach for a week:......$2,000
First 2 piece bathing suit in decades:............$36.00
NOT being the biggest one on the beach:.........PRICELESS!!
Wow, I cannot believe that my surgery was 1 year ago today. What a difference a year makes. So much has changed. From 320 pounds to 173 this morning. From a very generous size 28 to size 12/14. Blood pressure under control and energy level heading out the roof! The friend that I went to Florida with said it best: "you're much more fun now!"
We walked the beach (and I mean WALKED) for an hour every morning before all the kids got up. It was great. I even got a tan on my tummy! I can't tell you how long it has been since that part of me has seen the light of day!
I will go see Dr. Wright for my 1 year checkup on Friday, and will get to go to the support group meeting also.
January 17, 2002
I finally got a chance to get my website up and running, I copied a lot from here, which is copied from the written journal I have kept (or tried to keep!) It's been almost 7 months now, and I still cannot believe that this has worked for me. Don't know how much I have lost, but I do know that my clothes are getting looser. I bought some new jeans a couple of weeks ago, size 16. And my size 14 dresses are getting big on me (most of my weight is in my bottom half). But the best thing is I FEEL GREAT. I thank Dr. Wright daily. So, please check out the website and sign my guest book so I know who's been there! Let me know what you think, good or bad PLEASE.
December 27, 2001
I can't believe it has been 6 months since I had my surgery, and still not a single problem. I've not been sick, not even once! I feel so lucky, so many people have problems with being sick and not being able to eat, but I've not had the first bit of trouble. Guess I was born under a lucky star! So, all you pre-ops out there, it is possible to NOT be sick, I'm living proof. Yes, there have been a couple of times when I have felt "queasy" after eating, but that is the worst thing that has happened. I think Dr. Wright must have put a one-way valve at the top of my pouch!
I have lost 93 pounds, gone from a size 28 to a 14. I feel so much better, last year at this time my arthritis was unbearable and my blood pressure was out of control (190/100, on medication). Now I'm off all my blood pressure meds and running 120/80. It's amazing how much difference the weight makes with my arthritis, too. Last year it was a struggle to get to my car at the end of the day, now it's not a problem. My energy level has increased so much.
There are a lot of things that have changed, I can bend over and tie my shoes now, I don't panic when I see I have to sit in a booth, turnstiles don't scare me any more, I can wear size Q pantyhose (NO X, just Q), I went to a concert and sat in that little seat without getting THAT LOOK from the person sitting next to me, and I now own 2 belts! I am so thankful that my life has improved so much in just 6 short months. Who knows what the future will bring.
Sept. 28, 2001
It's been a while since I updated...things have been going great, I have not been sick, not once, not ever since the surgery 3 1/2 months ago. I'm not sure how much I have lost (I put the scales away...I hate those things). I am concentrating on the number in the back of my dresses rather than the number on a scale. I was in a generous 28 on the day of surgery. I pulled out some fall clothes from years gone by the other day and tried on an 18 and it fit!!! Yes, it is a full cut 18, but hey, it's an 18! I had some jean that I'm not sure what size they are because the tag is so faded, but I thought I would try them on, just to see how close I was to fitting into them. Well, I wore them today. Couldn't believe it. I go back to see Dr. Wright on Oct. 19, guess I will find out how many pounds I've lost then.
July 1, 2001
Went to see Dr. Wright on Friday....I've lost 13 pounds in the 10 days since surgery. I'm amazed and pleased. The staples came out and he put me on pureed foods. I also got to go to the support group, what a great inspiration. After the hospital my dh and I went to the mall to pick up a food processor to make my pureed stuff easier. He even fixed me a scrambled egg when we got home. Tasted pretty good, but took me a half hour to eat it, and then I didn't even eat the whole egg. But everything stayed down where it should be. Still no nasty complications.
June 28, 2001
It sure did feel great to be able to click on POST OP!!!! Finally. I had my surgery as scheduled on June 19 at noon. Everything went well, mostly.... the nurse in pre-op had a hard time getting my IV started. I was getting a bit freaked out and pretty scared by this time (I HATE needles)...then in came an answer to a prayer...a nurse came in and held my hand and talked to me. I don't really remember what she said, other than she wants this surgery too, but the insurance at Vanderbilt has an exclusion), but the sound of her voice and her just being there helped me so much. Finally the IV was in and the HAPPY JUICE got started and off I went to la-la land........woke up in recovery, not much pain, just drifting in and out.......you know how it is, you can hear everything you just can't open your eyes? I had been just laying there, in and out, listening, heard my husband ask the nurse if I would just be sleeping all night. She said yes, he said he might just sneak out and go home....I spoke up with "OH NO YOU WON'T!!!! Scared him to death LOL. True "teacher hearing" I guess. They finally found a room for me around 8:00 that night. The nursing care was great the whole time I was there...friendly, caring, professional...no complaints at all. I had a "Bari-bed" that was great, got me into almost a standing position when I had to get out of bed, it was so much easier than a regular bed. Stayed until Friday...my husband came in and wheeled me down to the support group meeting Friday morning, that was nice. Then I got to go home Friday afternoon. No complications, no problems...everything is going really well so far. I got lucky and for some reason Dr. Wright did not put in a G-tube. Thank you, Dr. W!!!! I did have the NG tube in the hospital, from Tuesday till Thursday. Was I ever glad to get that thing out! Then I got something to drink..all 30cc's of it! Still on liquid diet, I hope he lets me go to pureed food tomorrow when I see him. But I am not hungry at all. I know THAT won't last, but I'll take it as long as it stays. I'll go to the support group meeting tomorrow, then see Dr. Wright, I sure hope he takes my staples out then, they are beginning to bug me. Wonder if I've lost any weight........find out tomorrow.
June 15,2001
The pre-op testing was a breeze! Nothing like so many profiles I've read here...just talked to a nurse practitioner about medical history, talked with a nutritionist, then blood tests and an EKG. That was ALL, no drinking icky stuff. I'm not gonna worry about any excess bleeding during the surgery because I DON'T HAVE MUCH BLOOD LEFT!lol, I think she took it all. Can't wait to see my daughter tomorrow, what am I going to do when she goes off to college in August? I don't want to think about it.
June 13, 2001
Well, I'm down to just one week to go. I went to another support group meeting last Friday, after I had put my oldest child on a plane for London. (her senior trip, one down and 2 to go!) Man, that was harder than I thought! It made my jitters about the surgery just disappear! Tomorrow I have my pre-op testing and consult with Dr. Wright. I have been through ups and downs with my nerves over the surgery, but the closer I get to the day the calmer I get. It does help that I have not heard any bad comments about Dr. W, other than that he is all business. (if you call that a bad thing....I find that a good trait in a surgeon, tho! I would much rather he be totally serious and straight-forward about this than be like some other docs that I know...all personality and no expertise.) I plan on spending the rest of the week by the pool, don't want to look too pale in the hospital!!!
June 5, 2001
School is over, my classroom is packed up, and now there's just 2 weeks to go. Sometimes it seems like that day will never get here, and sometimes it feels like it's coming too fast. I just want the surgery to be over, I'm not looking forward to the pain that I know is coming...just tape that PCA button onto my hand and I'll be OK !! I keep thinking of more questions to ask Dr. Wright next week, that appointment may be another long one. Guess I will spend that last pre-op week sitting by the pool at the club, reading books that don't even have the word "school" in them!!!
May 31, 2001
I got my pre-op appointment and testing dates today....June 13 at 10 am to see Dr. Wright, then the pre-admission testing at 11:45. The surgery is still scheduled for June 19 at 12:00 (it was on Monday, June 18..and I was suppose to be at the hospital at 6:00...ME? 6 in the morning? On a MONDAY? 65 miles away? HA HA HA), so things are better now! I am in a "calm mode" right now, alternating between that and total panic! I like the calm times better. Just reading all the profiles here helps keep me in a calm state of mind. One cloud in my sky, a friend was turned down by Dr. Wright because of health problems she has...he told her that it was too risky and he would not do it. If it's that risky I am glad he turned her down, I would not want anything to happen to her. Smile, Pat :), there's a reason, God just hasn't shown it to you yet.
May 29, 2001
Another little bump, my surgery has been moved back 1 day...to June 19. That's OK, I never did like Mondays anyway! My pre-op testing is June 13, now I get to wonder and worry about what that will be like! I'm just greatful that Dr. Wright could work around my school schedule. Tomorrow is our last day of school for the kids, I sure will miss this class, they have been a joy to work with.
May 15, 2001
Well, called the insurance company...again...expecting to hear what I have heard each time I have called since the psych eval...
"No, we haven't gotten that information yet." But instead I heard " We received the information yesterday and your request was APPROVED today." I do humbly apologize to Susan at BC/BS, if I ruputured your ear drum when I SCREAMED, I'm sorry! One more worry off my mind. Now the count down begins..... one month from Friday.....June 18.....I can't wait.
April 26, 2001
Well, guess I'm not totally wacko, she let me leave yesterday after the psych. eval !! Seriously, I enjoyed the eval, Karen Starr at Vanderbilt is who I saw, she was great. We just talked about my life, past, present, and future. She was easy to talk to. Before I left she told me that I am a perfect candidate for this surgery. So...if this is all BC/BS waiting for, maybe an approval is close. Cross those fingers again....
April 25, 2001
Today is my psych. eval. appointment. I'm just ready to get this over with, I want my insurance approval in my hand...I don't want to have to think about where I'm going to get the money IF they don't approve me. I'm pretty confident about getting approval, but there is still that little feeling of doubt. Maybe this will be the final hurdle...keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for me......'til later....
April 15, 2001
Happy Easter!! I've had a small "speed bump" in my journey, called BC/BS on Friday...they are requiring a psychological evaluation (OK...all my friends: QUIT LAUGHING!!!!) I kinda knew this was coming, but it was still a bit of a disapoinmtent. I have a date for that, April 25. Oh well, just more waiting. Also on Friday I went to Dr. Wright's support group. Sure wish I could go every week. It was so good to be able to talk with people in all stages of this journey, even a couple of folks who had their WLS this week. Got to meet an e-mail buddy there, too. Hi Pat!
April 9, 2001
Still no insurance, they haven't even gotten the request from the doctor yet. BUT, I do have a date......June 18, my new birthday, now I have one in the winter and one in the summer, do I get presents for both???LOL. This is the perfect day for me, our oldest daughter is going to London on June 9, will be home on the 15th, I didn't want to be in the hospital while she is gone. God is good, he truly has a hand in this.
Called the insurance guy (Lisa was kind enough to give me his name and number and her blessing to call and bug him:)...he found my file in the stack, promised to put it on TOP of the stack, and said he will fax it to BCBS today. Guess I'll call them Wed. or Thurs. to find out. Still working on getting up the nerve to post a "before" pic, guess I'll have to have one taken first LOL.... I'll use the digital, then I can just delete the ones I just hate!
Sure did feel great to click "surgery date scheduled" !!
April 8, 2001
Still waiting, called Lisa about 2 weeks ago and she said the insurance papers should go out in a week or so....I know she had a family emergency and was out of the office for a few days. I am off for spring break this next week, so I plan on calling the insurance company to check the status. Fingers are crossed, prayers in progress. Planning on going to Dr. Wright's support group on Friday (April 13, Good Friday), hoping to meet a couple of e-mail WLS buds there. Can't wait to see them in real life!
March 18, 2001
I went for my first appointment with Dr. Wright on Wednesday, March 14. I am more sure than ever that he is the surgeon for me. I never once felt as though he was rushing me through, he and his assistant, Dr. Champney, answered each and every question I had, in depth. Next step, a date! Since I am going to self pay IF my insurance won't pay Dr. Wright told me to call Lisa in his office and have her schedule me for June (I'm a teacher and this will be my summer vacation!) Thank heavens for cell phones, I called her before I even left the parking garage! Hope by this time next week I'll have a date.
Feb. 18, 2001
After months of gathering information and strength from this and other WLS websites I have decided that
is the answer for me. Like so many of you I can lose weight, I've lost hundreds of pounds over the years!
But keeping it off, that's another story. So in mid January, 2001, I called Dr, Wright's office at Vanderbilt.
He sent a package of information and then called me a couple of weeks later. I am a teacher and need to be able to schedule surgery for in the summer, so Lisa in his office has managed to work me in.., I have an appointment scheduled for March 14. For the first time in years,I have hope.
My insurance is with BCBS/PPO, they seem to have a good
track record here, I guess time will tell. I do have a couple of comorbidities, arthritis and high blood pressure,
I hope that they will speed the approval process.
Photos
 pre-op, June 2001 |  |  GOAL!!! size 12 jeans |
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: John K. Wright, Jr. M.D.
I spoke with Dr. Wright about 2 weeks after receiving the packet of info from his office. He was quite helpful on the phone, did not make me feel as though I was taking up too much of his time, as other Drs. have. Lisa in the office has been great, working me in for March. I'm looking forward to that appointment. The appointment went great, he answered every question I had - which took over an hour - and made sure that I understood the answers. He was VERY straightforward, but I had heard that about him, and I want that in a surgeon. After surgery care is great, 10 days, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, and then yearly after that. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Wright. He has saved my life.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, PPO
Files were faxed to BC/BS on 4/9/01. On 4/11/01 they say I need a psych. eval. That is scheduled for 4/25/01. Hope that's all I need. 5/15/01 APPROVED!!!! The nicest word I heard all day. They got the psych eval from Dr. Wright's office yesterday, approved today. No problems, always helpful and polite when I called them (over and over, LOL). All in all, easy to deal with.
