Jupiter6
Post-Op Numbers
Oct 21, 2007
PRE OP LOSS-- from 368 pounds to 300.8 pounds (3/07-7/16/07)
POST OP WEIGHT LOSS
Day of surgery (7/16/07): 300.8 pounds
_______________________________________
ME
July 27 301.9 (+1.1) in 12 days
July 29 297.6 (-4.3) in 2 days
July 31 290.6 (-7.0) in 2 days
Aug 2 287.8 (-2.8) in 2 days
Aug 5 285.8 (-2.0) in 2 days
Aug 13 284.8 (-1.0) in 8 days
Aug 18 283.2 (-1.5) in 5 days
Aug 22 282.2 (-1.0) in 4 days
Aug 26 279.5 (-2.7) in 4 days
Aug 30 277.4 (-2.1) in 4 days
Sep 2 275.4 (-2.0) in 3 days
Sep 7 274.6 (-0.8) in 5 days
Sep 10 273.2 (-1.4) in 3 days
Sep 18 270 (-3.2) in 8 days
Sep 23 266.8 (-3.2) in 5 days
Sep 30 261.6 (-5.2) in 7 days
Oct 11 260.8 (-0.8) in 12 days
Oct 14 259.6 (-1.2) in 3 days
Oct 21 256.8 (-2.8) in 7 days
Oct 28 253.6 (-3.2) in 7 days
Nov 4 251.4 (-2.2) in 7 days
Nov 11 249.2 (-2.2) in 7 days
Nov 18 247.2 (-2.0) in 7 days
Nov 25 242.2 (-5.0) in 7 days
Dec 2 240.0 (-2.2) in 7 days
Dec 9 237.2 (-2.8) in 7 days
Dec 26 233.5 (-3.7) in 17 days (had IV fluids + TOM!)
Dec 31 231.6 (-1.9) in 4 days
Jan 2 229.8 (-1.8) in 2 days
Jan 16 227.8 (-2.0) in 14 days (TOM again, plus need to up cals to 850)
Jan 20 224.6 (-3.2) in 4 days
Feb 03 223.2 (-1.4) in 14 days
Feb 10 219.8 (- 3.4) in 7 days
Feb 18 218.8 (-1.0) in 8 days
Feb 24 216.2 (-2.6) in 6 days
Mar 02 214.8 (-1.4) in 7 days
Mar 09 212.8 (-2.0) in 7 days
Mar 16 211.2 (-1.6) in 7 days
Mar 26 207.6 (-3.6) in 10 days
Mar 30 206.4 (-1.2) in 4 days
Apr 6 206.2 (-0.2) in 7 days *TOM!
Apr 13 203.6 (-2.6) in 7 days
Apr 20 200.4 (-3.2) in 7 days
Apr 27 199.6 (-0.8) in 7 days *TOM day 3
May 4 195.0 (-4.6) in 7 days
May 11 194.4 (-0.6) in 7 days
May 18 192.6 (-1.8) in 7 days
May 25 190.8 (-1.8) in 7 days *TOM day 3
June 3 194.0 (+3.2) in 9 days *post GB surgery 5/28
June 8 215.4 (+21.4) in 5 days *post emergency obstruction 6/5
June 15 194.4 (-21) in 7 days *TOM day 2
June 18 186.4 (-8.0) in 3 days
June 23 175.0 (-11.4) in 5 days (I cannot explain this!)
June 30 177.2 (+2.2) in 7 days (or maintain it, obviously)
July 7 175.4 (-1.8) in 7 days
July 14 175.6 (+0.2) in 7 days * TOM day 4
July 17 173.8 ( -1.8) in 3 days
July 27 172.2 ( -1.6) in 10 days
Aug 7 172.0 ( -0.2) in 13 days * TOM day 5
Aug 11 171.6 (-0.4) in 4 days
Aug 17 169.2 (-2.4) in 6 days Upped cals to 1000
Aug 31 168.2 (-1.0) in 14 days *TOM to start? Up cals to 1100
Sep 6 168.0 (-0.2) in 6 days
Sep 13 166.2 (-1.8) in 7 days
Sep 27 164.6 (-1.6) in 14 days
(Oct 14 169.0 (+4.4) Water Weight from VT trip)
Oct 18 162.0 (-2.6) in 21 days
Oct 25 161.0 (-1.0) in 7 days
Nov 8 160.4 (-0.6) in 14 days
Dec 7 160.0 (-0.4) in 30 days
Dec 14 158.0 (-2.0) in 7 days
Jan 18 156.0 (-2.0) in 26 days (flu!- Ray's scale)
Feb 1 153.2 (-2.8) in 14 days (on gym scale)
Feb 22 155.6 (+2.4) in 21 days (post vday bday &VA trip)
Mar 1 158.4 (+2.8) in 7 days (can't explain-- much edema though)
Mar 8 155.8 (-2.6) in 7 days (+ exercise, +Rutin, + TEDs 3x)
Mar 15 153.4 (-2.4) in 7 days (1 day post TOM)
Mar 22 153.2 (-0.2) in 7 days
Mar 29 153.2 (-0.0) in 7 days
Apr 5 154.0 (+0.8)in 7 days (Exercising more, eating great! :( )
Apr 10 153.4 (-0.6) in 5 days
Apr 19 150.6 (-2.8) in 9 days (even after Baltimore and 1500 cal Sat!)
Apr 26 154.4 (+3.8)in 7 days (no increase in cals, MORE exercise- WTF?)
May 3 156.7 (+2.3)in 7 days (retaining water- bad constipation--extra exercise-- WTF?)
*Despite the gains, bumping to 1400 cals-- I am wayyyy low for my activity level
May 10 158.0 (+1.3)in 7 days (Ray's scale-- new good constipation regimen starts)
May 24 153.2 (- 4.8) in 14 days (I owe it to good poopin'!)
May 31 156.0 (+2.8) in 7 days (I am WAYYY undereating my RMR now- Got GoWear- will adjust.)
June 7 156.2 (+0.2) in 7 days (gym scale 600-700 cal deficit daily)
June 14 154.0 (-2.2) in 7 days (gym scale 500 calorie deficit daily)
June 25 154.0 -- Day of Body Plastics (Mom's scale)
July 5 147.5 (-6.5) in 11 days (Mom's scale-- 1 week post plastics)
July 12 151.0 (+3.5) in 7 days-- 1400 cal (Mom's scale 2 weeks post plastics)
July 19 149.5 (-1.5) in 7 days (Mom' s scale)
July 31 152.6 (- 1.4) in 47 days, overall--despite leaving 10+ pounds on OR floor! (gym scale)
Blindsided by pain.
Sep 27, 2007
I hope you do not mind my contacting you directly.I cannot sleep, and need to do something, anything to try to address the pain my partner and I are in.
Ray and I were both significantly morbidly obese-- he was 387 pounds, I was 368, when we decided to pursue RNY. We called our respective insurances, (me-BC BS Personal Choice-- him Aetna) and gave them our plan numbers, and were both told by telephone that we were each covered for weight loss surgery providing we met the eligibility criteria. We both do.
This information in tow, we attended a seminar held by John Meilahn at Temple University Hospital. We went to pre-op consults, and were both considered excellent candidates for surgery-- both have significant co-morbidities: Ray has sleep apnea, high blood pressure-- a host of major issues, as did I.
Ray went to his first round of pre-op testing, only to find that he was not covered for the tests at the hospital because he was "out of network" (and lost a day of work.) He rescheduled at an in-network hospital, was assured his tests were covered there, and lost a second day when the referrals "weren't in the system." Finally, he rescheduled a third time, and had all testing done.
We then paid our program fees of $350 each. Ray was seen by a nutritionist and psychologist and was cleared by each. He began his 6 month visits (which he made like clockwork, per Aetna's criteria) with his primary doctor--kept exacting data about his diet and exercise, got copies of his 5 year medical history showing a very high BMI for all 5 years--- and lost 50 pounds pre-operatively while waiting. He paid an additional $50 for his PCP to write him a letter stating his role in supervising this event, and our surgeon's office manager described the packet as "the most ideal Aetna submission she had ever seen."
My surgery was approved much earlier, and I had my RNY in July. Ray worked diligently at his pre-op diet, and struggled but has stayed on task. His losses slowed considerably-- in fact have stalled for over a month, despite his concerted efforts--so we knew the RNY would be his only recourse, and were so relieved that it would soon be approved.
To make this long story short, he received a denial yesterday. He immediately called Aetna, and at first was told there was information missing, which was in no way possible-- his chart was exhaustive.
Then he called again and spoke with a different case manager-- and was told his employer had an exemption after all, despite what he was initially told--and offered no coverage which covered WLS procedures.
This hardworking man-- a father of 8 children who did everything as he was supposed to do and at great personal cost-- was blindsided. He had done what you are supposed to do and inquired up front about coverage and was misinformed. Self pay is not an option here.
So as I sit here, my partner is being torn apart. He is terrified about the prospect of not being able to have this surgery. I feel alone and hurt-- this was a journey we embarked on together. We cannot self-pay. He spent a large sum of cash and innumerable hours preparing for a surgery that Aetna had no intention of covering, all because their agent gave him misinformation six months ago. He was never given a copy of his policy when it was requested, and was referred instead to the website by his HR department-- and met all criteria listed therein.
Is there any recourse whatsoever for him? Is there any chance that you know of for him to find a way to have this procedure covered? His life may truly hang in the balance-- his medical issues are that intense and his losses-- even on a 1600 calorie diet and doing a serious cardio workout--- are at a standstill for over a month now. My own successes are getting buried in hurt an d loss. We were supposed to undertake this journey together.
Please tell me if there is anything possible that can be done at this time. Thank you for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Shari XXXXX
Pre-Op Goals, revisited
Sep 08, 2007
1) To fit in that size 30 checkerboard suit I bought because I loved it, even though I know damn well it's crazy looking *and* I wear a size 36!(Generally I don't have vanity goals, but I love this blasted suit. Sue me.) Coulda been DONE by June 30,2007 at 313 pounds...but had nowhere to wear it. hello, eBay! :Þ Oct. '07--- it's goin' on eBay! Sold it to a lady in Spain for $35. :)
2) To walk through a flea market or grocery store without having to lean on a cart, or vendor, or fence, or nearby indigent person from the back pain.DONE May 12 at 331 pounds. April '08- I regularly shop for 4-5 hours at a clip without resting now.
3) To go up my stairs without bracing myself first or stopping on the landing. DONE, but it still hurts 5/07 ... DONE without pain 6/07 April '08-I never even think about it now.
4) To be able to open the bathtub drain without having to get out of the tub first. (Also looking forward to the day when taking a bath will consist of more than sitting in a tub and dumping a half cup of warm water into my bellybutton. ;) DONE...hadn't even thought about it! 6/18/07
5) To be able to walk around my block (1/2 mile) without pain, wheezing, or hyperventilating. DONE- Can do 8/10 Mile 4/28/07
ONE MILE 6/20/07 DID 3 MILES on 9/29/07 April '08 -- the boredom does me in wayyy before my body cares.
6) To take a refreshing nap or have a good night's sleep.
DONE- haven't used the CPAP in two weeks. Stuffy, but survivable-
June '07...DONE--- no more cpap post RNY--7/16/07 Sept. '07--I can actually take restful naps! April '08-- some stuffiness is back-- allergies?
7) To sleep through the night again, without a bathroom intermission.
DONE- Stopped doing this in mid-April (but I am chronically dehydrated)
8) To be able to dance through an entire song when we go out at night instead of making bullshit excuses about how I hate the music, or I am dizzy or drunk. DONE 9/07/07, but my hips don't move right. My center of gravity's wayyyy off.) April '08--Still not much of a dancer but I may be better once I get the hang of my size and shape.
9) To have menstrual cramps, without narcotics, and survive.
9/04/07--First day of school-- made it 4 hours before I got home and raced for the bottle. Still lousy, but may be improving. April '08--- first MP ever without narcotics. I took two Tylenol like normal people.
10) To teach standing on my feet instead of sitting on a chair or my desktop, or windowsill. 9/04/07 Doable, as soon as the heat passes.
11) To purchase clothing from a normal store, instead of Catherine's, where everything costs a gajillion dollars and is festooned with heinous appliques and animal prints. DONE- bought a couple of tops at the wretched WalMart on 6/17/07 April '08- Bought my last 14-16 shirts from lame Giant. Thank jeezis.
12) To boink the holy heck outta my current paramour. Engineers are working out the kinks on this as we speak. 10/07-- If I could stay awake long enough, you never know! April '08-- Hey, the guy had his RNY Tuesday-- I think I'll give him a few more days.
13) To store a bag of Doritos or Chex Mix without emptying it first.
(This one won't happen, since I won't buy them again.) 9/08/07-- I've had the same bag of baked tortilla chips for almost a month. 10/07 Make that 2 months April '08-- I just don't buy that shit anymore.
14) To participate in a march or rally for a cause I believe in.
9/29/07-- Walk From Obesity-- a 5k--- will I survive? 10/07-- Survived all 3 miles, walked another mile the next morning, and then went swimming!
15) To have a cold that lasts mere days instead of months. No colds in 7 months. April '08-- No colds in a year!
16) To buy a bra in a color other than black, beige, or white.
8/07 I bought a lavender one April '08--- having bra problems as always-- I'm a 38 DDD, which really doesn't exist in real time.
17) To buy that bra in a store, and not from a mail-order company.
Got 'em at Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug, mofo!
18) To fit in a booth, theater seat or classroom desk comfortably and consistently.
9/7/08- I fit in our school's auditorium chairs, my doctor's waiting room chairs, two booths in restaurants-- I think I am clear.
19) To get my suppurative sores to stop multiplying. DONE- knock wood-- literally NO new sores since January, and only one suppurative old one (June 07) Revised: one small sore post surgery 7/19/07--revised again-- gahhh-- another in the axilla in September----grrrr10/07---After a wretched month long heat wave, I have another rat bastard sore April '08 No sores since the fall-- combo of diet and cool weather's been very good to me!
20) To enjoy a warm summer day without heat prostration. DONE- This spring has been the easiest one in my memory! 9/7/07-- My classroom is still miserably freakin' hot, but it doesn't make me quite as sick.
21) To tie my shoes without having to grab my pantleg and yank my foot up, and not tie them on the sides, either! DONE- 5/07 I can cross my legs effortlessly these days.
22) To spend a day at the Art Museum without sitting on every bench as I go.
DONE--6/07-- I hit the bench a couple of times, but not nearly as often, and saw the whole place!
23) To never again experience under-belly or under-breast rashes. (This...will take some surgical intervention, since I plan on having knee-length breasts.) DONE- haven't had this since March '07 April '08 The under belly rashes continue-- I photograph them as they occur-- just more info when it's time for plastics!
Post Op Pain: Gone
Sep 07, 2007
Of course it means now I want to move like a maniac. But nope--- GENTLE exercise until 7/14....I promised myself.
Mmmkay. Pain gone, TOM over. Time to start racking ass.
Results of CT Scan/ Back to Work!
Sep 04, 2007
Hey man, tell me something I didn't know.
No pain in 4 days-- and no exercise either. TOM started painfully at school today )as usual, but I breathed through it and am happily medicated tonight.
Due to TOM, no major weigh ins for a few days!
6 1/2 Weeks
Aug 29, 2007
Cara confirmed that I am doing okay but should seek out more whole grains and fiber to help the bathroom issues along. Dr.M wants me off the Milk of Magnesia and onto Miralax, which is fine by me.
Both think my loss is a good thing, and played like they don't believe it's unbelievably slow, but I know damn well it is. Twenty pounds...at six weeks? PuhLEEZE! Might move faster if I was able to get back to the gym--- if only my belly would comply!
Gah!
5 1/2 Weeks
Aug 23, 2007
Until I got out of the water--- then it started pulling a little.
By Monday, I wanted my binder again. And today, it's a tight pain that extends to my ribcage. I emailed the doc but haven't heard back. I guess I probably aggravated the hematoma, and instead of reabsorbing it, I somehow tweaked it. It's not something I can see OR feel with fingertips, feels more like a torn muscle when I move.
Could be so much worse, but I really need normalcy back. I am avoiding exercise except walking for a week. Every time I move in bed I wake up, so I am a little extra sleepy. I think my body is trying to fix itself, so I get sleepy a lot-- trying to sleep my way well-- but it's not working.
Felt very very lightheaded tonight. Had to blink a lot to clear my head.
I'm gonna try not to move anything, including myself, for a few days.
Trying:One Month Out
Aug 15, 2007
Monday I had another episode-- almost 4 hours in the bathroom. I tore myself badly, probably seriously destroyed my surgical site too, despite holding my scar for dear life. Bled like hell, and have felt for four days like I've been kicked hard in both front and back hoohaas.
So I started taking TWO Colace, plus Milk of Magensia at night. Makes for ye olde dire-rear of the explosive variety, which is just swell on my already tender guts. I know-- whine,whine,whine. But this is unlike anything I've ever had, pain wise-- it's worse then a kidney stone.
I stopped swimming right after that-- I really pulled something-- the scar area hurts so much again. Now I am back to walking-- just walked a mile at midnight, in fact.
I need to mind-over-matter this mess. I am hitting these problems head on as they come, mindful of my good fortune that I can keep food down, annoyed that I don't lose very easily post op. In fact, I lost better pre- op. But that's a whole different tear fest.
I don't want extra, or easy, or fun. I just want the pain to stop soon. I'll do the rest, truly. Just take the pain away.
Three Weeks Post Op
Aug 08, 2007
I have been having hell constipation issues. Three hours in the bathroom, glycerine and Dulcolax-- 2 am trips to the pharmacist in tears, it's been seriously painful. I've taken Colace now for 5 days, and Milk of Magnesia once yesterday-- so naturally I was greeted this AM by explosive "Dire-rear" as I like to say. Joy!
I am now in a big quandry about exercise. It helps my mood as a I try to skate on top of this week's miseries (Hibernation Syndrome in Full Effect) but after each episode, the belly hurts like hell.
Ah well. It's my time of month-- weight loss has stopped, mood is middling at best, motivation is zero. I figure this time next week, maybe the belly pain will finally go away, the water will go away, and I will have my body back. Right now, that's really all I want-- my physical body functioning as it did before they went jabbin' scopes and thingies into it!
I'm not miserable-- but I am surfing atop a wave of something or other. Hanging in!
Getting better
Aug 01, 2007
I just spent 4 hours on the phone with one of my two new OH friends-- and it felt good to laugh and commiserate with my new, young and disturbingly good lookin' friendigal. Tomorrow I will hit the pool again (with a venegance!) and hopefully in the next couple of days catch up with friend numbah two.
I am not even close to getting my fluids in. Not even in the ballpark. I am making that priority one tomorrow-- maybe the resulting fullness will keep me from a repeat performance of egg salad spoonful eatin' that I was dying for tonight!
Here's hoping for a little more sleep-- I'm gonna prod Morpheus with the ol' narcotic stick!
