kabookie
Jan. 2, 2000: I have changed from United Healthcare HMO to BCBS of Alabama PPO.
I called and spoke with Jan who says I will need the surgeon to
submit a pre-detemination. I am getting ready to call Dr. Wright
in Nashville for my next step. Thanks to this site, I may
finally be starting my WLS journey! Is this really happening???
Jan. 15, 2000: My information from May through now has vanished
from my profile, thanks to my great skill with computers! lol
I spoke with Dr. Wright over the phone today, and I also talked
to the Advanced Surgical Group in Marietta, GA - Dr. Smith is
the surgeon, and he does three types of surgery. Dr. Wright does
not do BPD/DS, and I'd like to know which surgery would be best
for me. So, it looks like I'll be seeing Dr. Smith on Feb.8th,
MY FIRST CONSULT! My hubby and I will drive down after he gets
off work Wednesday night late, and I may be doing a good chunk
of the driving on the way there. His mother will watch our boys
so they can keep their perfect attendance with school. I hope
to get a lot of my pre-op work done before then, but I will take
it as it comes. I had an EGD in October, plenty of bloodwork
lately due to my thyroid, a bladder infection and a herniated
disk, so I may have enough for a good start. The more I can
squeeze into any trip, the better. I may have my sister from
Michigan come down to stay with me in Atlanta, and if all goes
well, my mother-in-law can stay with the boys so Shannon can go
to work as usual. We don't need any short paychecks! I'm not
a bit scared right now, but I expect it will hit me all at once
one day, and I'll be turning to you all, my dear friends, for
some coddling! WOO-HOO - Kabookie's on her way!
July 8, 2001 -- Well, BCBS denied the DS surgery as they consider it investigational. We have moved from Tennessee to Kentucky, and I have appointments with a cardiologist and a RNY surgeon this week. BCBS says that RNY "IS" covered with the MO diagnosis code, so I don't think I will have any more battles. Now I just have to have patience...
My new surgeon's name is Dr. James T. Bergin, and he is with a Dr. Korba in Bowling Green, KY. Dr. Bergin is spoken very well of by other doctors in the area, "...he's an excellent surgeon..." said one. I believe I will not be able to have this done lap, but after the struggles I've been through for over a year and a half, I'll take open over no surgery at all. I will try to keep my profile updated.
August 24, 2001 -- My LOMN was received on August 7th by BCBS. I called every day, and finally, this afternoon at 4:00 I got my good news. My surgery is approved as medically necessary and a covered expense! I won't get a surgery date until my surgeon gets the letter in the office. I have decided to go with Dr. Dennis C. Smith in Marietta, GA after all. I need to know I have an experienced surgeon. Dr. Smith has a backlog of surgeries, so I can't even guess as to when I'll get a date, but at least I know it's going to happen!
January 11, 2002 -- I had my surgery as scheduled on 1-2-02, at 8:30 am. I am told I was out of surgery by 11:30. I have to admit the first five or six days were the worst, with the j-tube in, but I started doing much better after the tube came out. Down from 247 to 237 as of the 9th of January at Dr. Smith's office. No scale to obsess on here at home, lol. I've been going longer between doses of my pain meds. My back seems to be bothering me more today than my front, but I am definitely quite a site with my 7 incision sites. I am bruised up and down my inner forearms from the IV's, but they are improving. I'll update more as I go, and thanks to everyone here who has sent me emails and have kept up with my progress.
January 19, 2002 -- Even though I read and researched WLS, I never dreamed I would feel this good. I'm down from 247 to 222 in 17 days. I have been off pain meds for 3 days. I can feel the difference when I get out of chairs. I am eating very soft foods and have not had any problems with any vomiting. I'm walking like crazy and can hardly wait until I can get into the pool again. My first recheck is on February 1st, so we'll see how my labs are, but I have no problem with any of my vitamins, calcium, and iron supplements. Looking forward to receiving the tropical flavor protein from Vitalady. The chocolate whey of the Met-rx I have is okay, but I'm ready to try other things. To all the pre-ops out there, I waited a long time for this, and it's already worth it in less than three weeks. Don't give up!
Feb. 12, 2002 -- Down to 215 pounds! My labs won't be done until my 3-month recheck. I'm doing a 12-week challenge at the YMCA, and I'm really enjoying the mobility I am gaining this early in the game. I can't imagine how neat it will be to feel even better after I'm down to near goal. I have no pain, no problems with foods, and I'm feeling great.
March 6, 2002 -- Weight is 208. I haven't really lost anything in nearly three weeks. I can't figure it out, unless I'm not eating enough. I've heard that causes some of us to hang on to that darned excess weight with a vice-like grip. I'm going to start adding more veggies to my diet. I have been doing strictly protein with a minimum of carbs. I am feeling more normal these days, too. Mostly I'm grateful that my gall bladder is gone. The pain that I endured for nearly 4 years is GONE! I had more ultrasounds, HIDA scans, to no avail. But it turned out to be chronically inflammed, so good-bye and good-riddance to it!
March 23, 2002 -- Weight is 198! I really don't know what I did that was any different. I'm just glad the scale is moving again. That makes 49 pounds gone in less than three months. I'm on track to lose 90% of my excess body weight according to the progress chart on this site. I'm finally getting to the point where I'll catch a glimpse of my reflection in a window and find it hard to believe it's me. My worst problem now is that I seem to be having some insomnia. As much as I hate dumping, I'm glad I have that little extra reminder not to eat too fast. The most amazing thing for me is that today I realized that I don't remember even one time that I have actually felt hungry. I'm 100% satisfied with my RNY.
May 11, 2002: Wow! I am down 73 pounds, to 174! I'm ahead of the chart as far as losing 100% of my excess weight by a month! I feel great and will be looking into plastic surgery for next year, I'm sure. I have only two more BMI points to go before I'm only "overweight". I never expected such good results. I was sure I was the one the surgery wouldn't work for, lol. My quality of life is improved and my heart is singing!
June 10, 2002: I just had my birthday--guess what I got? A year older! (LOL) Weight today is 168!
September 5, 2002: I am down to 147lbs! I'm officially in the century club! I'm also waiting for approval for panni/TT.
Jan 13, 2003: Weight is 112!!! I can't believe it myself. I'm doing things and wearing things I've never been able to before. My health is restored!!! I've been given my life back.
Dec. 30, 2004: It's been a long time since I updated, no doubt! I'm at 116 pounds, and have just found that I have osteoporosis. Started Fosamax yesterday, and will up my calcium citrate. I also have Autoimmune Thyroid Diesase - or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Probably not related to WLS, and no change in my thyroid meds, just more rechecking, I guess. On a good note, my sister, father-in-law, and a dear college friend all had successful surgeries since I've had mine. Sis will be 2 years post op on March 3rd. She is so happy and beautiful, and has a super new job. Dad's health is improving, no more sleep apnea! All in all, great all around news. I'd still do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Jan 12, 2005: I had an MRI that found a rotator cuff tear, tendonitis and bursitis. I see an OS on Jan 24th. My dad and sister say I'll likely have to have it surgically repaired - they had to have it done, too. *sigh* Waiting for results on my 3-year bloodwork. Need to have one more fasting tube drawn for vitamin A check in the morning. I hope the rest of my results are in, though. I'm hoping all will be well. Tomorrow is supposed to get up to 71 - a record for this date - then get cold again for the weekend. On the bright side, there's nothing but sunshine forcasted for those cold days! We've had plenty of rain already this fall and winter. Sheesh, between the crazy weather and the tsunami and the California mudslides, I pray that all are safe and well.
Jan 27, 2005: Saw an orthopedic surgeon yesterday. I need one more test, an arthrography with MRI (contrast dye injected into the shoulder) to determine how to fix my rotator cuff. I know it will hurt, but I hope it's not too bad. I want to be fixed!
August 20, 2005: I did have my rotator cuff surgery in February. I went through physical therapy and it's better in some ways. It's still weak and I have trouble moving it certain ways. In March I made the elephant costume for my son Zachery's play, put on by the Allen County Scottsville Arts Council. Jungalbook was the play, and my son played Baloo the Bear. The kids worked hard and put on a great show. I also did all the make up with my facepainting kit - made for faces, not acrylics like some people use. That is so bad for skin and should never be used.
On April 17th my husband, 14 year-old son Christopher, and a friend of Christopher's went fishing at the Narrows at Barren River Lake. It was 80 degrees, and the boys got tired of fishing, so they decided to swim across the small cove. The water was about 20 feet deep, and the span was maybe 60 feet from side to side. When they were half way across, Chris started having trouble with his arms and legs. Chris was in perfect condition, 6'2", 185lbs, a weight lifter, football player, and basketball player. He may have had 2 or 3% body fat. It turned out that the water was only 55 degrees, and hypothermia was setting in on Chris. His friend was a little heavier, so he was okay. Chris called for help, and his friend had a hold of him, but Chris was struggling and nearly pulled his friend under, too, so his friend had to let go. My husband started out toward him, but lost sight of him when he went under. He went back to call 911, and his friend made it to the other side of the cove. It was two hours before they found his body, and it wasn't cold enough to have brought him back. At the hospital, all 4 of my other sons, aged 24, 21, 19, and 11 were there, as well as our neighbors who heard it on a scanner and met us there as we came with the ambulance. We called my hubby's family who were there, too. We were in shock. How could such a perfect, healthy young man drown so quickly? Hypothermia apparantly doesn't care how fit you are. My family came from all over the country - Michigan, Indiana, and Florida - for the funeral. I never thought I'd have to bury a child! My husband was wracked with guilty feelings and irrational fears, and I was eating everything in sight that folks brought to the house. We holed up in the house, not wanting to leave for "fear" that something else bad would happen. Amazingly, my weight crept up to 144! Not overnight, but I didn't seem to care.
In June, I was invited to join the Arts Council, an honor for me, and I accepted. We have free musical performances on the town square once a month in the summer. We do the kids' play in the spring, other arts programs through the winter, and a play for "grown ups" (lol) in the fall. I auditioned and was selected to be in "Anybody For Tea?" which will show September 23-25. I've been walking every day, gone back to protien shakes, being "perfect" with all my vites and supplements, and I'm back down to 130 so far. I hope to be 125 or less by showtime. I've never acted before, other than my clowning, so it's a bit of a stretch for me, but I needed to do something to get out from under my grief. I've also applied to be a substitute teacher. It seems to help when I'm around the kids, and Chris had some wonderful friends who still visit us. Our community was wonderful, too. We held the memorial service at the High School auditorium, where there were over 700 in attendance. Chris was supposed to be the Varsity Quarterback, though he'd just have been a Freshman this year. He was handsome and very popular with all the kids, no matter who they were. I had to remember that Chris was proud of ME when I lost my weight after surgery, and he wouldn't have wanted me to mope and gain it all back. We miss him every day, that will never change. We planted a memorial garden for him here at the house, and he would love it - he always wanted us to do one. It has a pond and a waterfall and lots of flowers and greenery.
October 26, 2006: This is my first post with the new format, so I hope everything from before doesn't vanish. I have gone back to the basics, 100 percent. As of October 2nd, when I was 157 pounds, I have managed to get down to 139. The first 12 came off quickly, but the rest has been sooooo slow! I'm setting mini goals -- as small as 3 or 4 pounds at a time -- and I have finally realized that there's no one but myself to blame or to praise for what I feed myself. Before I couldn't imagine being "tiny" let alone "average". When I got into a size 4 I could hardly believe it. It was so awesome wearing clothes I'd never dreamed I'd fit or look good in. But I did, and was told I was "tiny"! Now, though I didn't gain as much as I might have, I know what I will look like when I get this excess weight back off. I still have my tools! And baby, I am using them! We always must remember that our biggest tool is still our brain, our new-found knowledge of the right things and ways to eat, and when we use our WLS tools with that we can do it! I'm in a high stress job -- I am the in-school suspension teacher at our Intermediate Center, 4th - 6th grades. I have all the troubled kids every day. I put on most of my weight just from snacking at my desk. If anyone finds themselves doing that, PLEASE, nip it in the bud. The sooner you put the breaks on that bad habit the easier it will be to remedy the damage you may have done. After the first few days you will truly feel better, and as the weight comes back off you will be pumped! That should keep you motivated. Hang a favorite outfit in plain sight, put up past pics, journal, whatever little "tricks" you need to keep you focused. Yes, it was easier in those first months when the weight flew off. But those days are over, and we have to work a little longer and harder to lose a few pounds. But we STILL CAN! That's why we had the surgery! And I would like to save some money to have a lower body lift over the summer, if possible. I had a tummy tuck, but it wasn't all I needed. I also was left with those darned "dogears" at the sides of my hips. Those have got to go, and I could use that skin flap fanny enhancement that can be done with our own tissue being use to give the buns a little more shape. If the LBL never happens, I'll still be okay with that, but it's what I'd like to have done. Until then, I have a lot of work to do to get that last 25 pounds back off. This time I'm set in my determintion to do it NOW, not cave and try again another number of times. I'm fighting for my health and my happiness. My son would be proud of me. He was the most disciplined person, child or adult, that I have ever known, and I'm taking pages from his book. He is my personal inspiration, and I miss him so much it hurts. Every day. I'll win this battle for Chris.
