Brenda Anderson

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Gloria S. 17 years, 7 months ago

WAY TO GO Bren! You did it. I'm so happy for you....I've been praying for you all weekend and "I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time" you and your surgery came to mind today.........may your recovery be speedy and your pain minimal......best wishes......Glo

Felicia S 17 years, 7 months ago

Best wishes on an unevenful surgery followed by a smooth and fast recovery!!! *huggles* Felicia

Sweet_Tee 17 years, 7 months ago

May your surgery be the beginning of a fantastic new life--filled with everything you dream for yourself!

Stephanie H 17 years, 7 months ago

Good luck on your surgery and may the angels speed you through recovery *super hugs* Stephie

Cyndi M. 17 years, 7 months ago

~~~~~~CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING SURGERY~~~~~~ (Everything in our lives happens for a purpose and that purpose is to prepare us) May God give you courage, strength and guidance throughout your new journey. You are about to embark on the most amazing transformation of you mind, body and soul. Your big day is almost here, this is the day, your new life will begin, I cant promise it will be easy, cant say it will be hard, I can say that with all the complications and everything I had to go through, It was well worth it. I have never felt better in yearsss, I’m off all medications, have sooooo much more energy. So if you hit a bump in the road, hang in there and remember it will alll be worth it in the long run. Sending Prayers your way that the Lord will guide your surgeon’s hands. May the guardian angels wrap their loving arms of protection around you during your surgery and recovery. Remember your not alone in this journey, many of us have been down this road, we are here to offer love and support. Looking forward to hearing from you on the loosing side. Huggs and Prayers Link to my profile 8-19-04 surgery date weight 297.5 height 5f 2 -115.5 weight losss http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=M1087435160

Kelly Jo W. 17 years, 7 months ago

Best of luck on your surgery! I hope your recovery is swift and uneventful!

Brenda Anderson 17 years, 10 months ago

Well I thought I would sit a bit and fill you in on the saga of my newest weight loss journey. I have hooked up with Mercy Medical and their Gastric-Bypass program. My first encounter with them was a lecture on the process and what the surgeons will be doing. We were instructed to go to the Cafeteria of the clinic. Ok, I am a funny type of gal, love humor and all, but come on. Do you know what it is like to have a meeting for Fat people in a food establishment? Ugh! Jeanne and I sit amusingly, for the discussion to start. The Doctor starts by telling the room full of souls that are looking for a cure-all, “I am about to take away something from you that you have clung to for you support.” I personally felt a large vice on my heart and my air was being cut off in my throat. Yes, I have used food my entire life for my survival. The obsession I have of the smells, the textures, the tastes, the rhythm of chewing and swallowing, the feeling as it sits in the large, stretched, sack called my stomach. Food has always been my drug. Food has always fixed, whatever troubles I have created. They want me to willingly give them permission to take it from me? The first step after the lecture was to fill out a 20-page history questioner. I also needed to find out if my insurance would cover the many different appointments, tests and the surgery itself. Ok, well they ask everything including if I went to the bathroom. I was so pumped about the possibility of making a complete change for myself I had the questioner completed and in the mail to the clinic before the sun went down. I had also put a call into the insurance. When they returned my call it was the most heart stopping news I could have gotten. The company I had chosen, for the surgery did not cover the things I needed. I was in shock, I was numb, and I was done. By done, I mean, I had been in the front seat of this big roller coaster I handled the first couple of hills and now I was at the top of the largest drop I had ever seen. I was not going to be able to do this my life was over, I was going to be FAT, and unhealthy all the rest of my life. I was going to eat my way to my death. I called the HR person in charge of the Insurances offered here at work. She was on vacation and not due back for 2 weeks. In my own demented head I thought 2 weeks I would be dead by then, I am not dramatic or anything. When she did get back to me the news was not good. There had been a mistake. JD had put the information in our new employee packets and HR had not proofread the information. So it was true I was not covered for this surgery or any of the testing. I then from the suggestion of a friend at work, e-mailed my HR and explained my predicament and my desperate need to have insurance that covered this procedure. This was the only reason I went with JD. To my great surprise it worked, they granted me an exception to policy and let me change insurance companies before the open enrollment. I was able to switch to a company that did pay for morbid obesity surgery. I was going to get the surgery. I called the mercy clinic and told them the good news I would be able to move forward with the process. The first thing they did was set me up with their psychiatrist. The evaluation was one of the insurance requirements to get approved. I went and talked with her (Dr. Koele) she asked my views, perceptions, and knowledge of what I was thinking about doing. We sat and talked about all the pros and cons of this life changing and dramatic endeavor. We also talked about me seeing a counselor on a regular basis so I could have a resource when I needed to talk or deal with issues that may come up. After the 2-hour session I left went home and I waited to hear back from Mercy. Three weeks later still no word on the evaluation. I could not stand the wait any longer I called mercy to see where we were in the process of my case. They were still waiting to here from my psych evaluation. I could not understand why this was not in their office, what could possibly be taking so long. I knew this was a bad sign. Maybe I was crazy and they just were prolonging the bad news. I called Dr. Koele’s office and to my surprise they said they mailed the evaluation weeks ago. Now, I am a bit put off. Where is it? Does anyone realize I am sitting in limbo? I am dieing, again I am not too dramatic am I? I requested that they send it again. Another two weeks went by no word from anyone. I call Mercy yet again. They told me that now a resident Dr. needed to look at the evaluation and see what his thoughts were on my mindset. I could have told them myself. I want to go forward. I am stomping my feet and putting on the biggest show of pouting I could muster. So again I wait. Only to see another 2 weeks go by with not a word. I called Mercy again. By this point I am wondering is anyone working on my life-changing journey besides me? Mercy told me, the Dr. had been out of the office on emergencies and had not looked at my file. After another 2 weeks I called again. This time to here that the Dr. had read my file and He feels that I need to have better coping skills in place before I proceed. His recommendations were 8 to 10 visits with a counselor before I have the initial phone interview into the program. I was livid. I had wasted so much time only to hear that I now needed to see a counselor for another 2 mo. before they would talk to me about the surgery. I was devastated once again. Was God really putting roadblocks in my way? Are all these obstacles in my way for a reason? My dad said that maybe God didn’t want me to die yet. I am going to die. Someday. A friend in the office is also looking into the gastric bypass and she happen to go to a lecture with a major competitor of Mercy this was Methodist. A well-known Dr. from Grinnell Dr. Eibes that has done several surgeries took over the program for Methodist, Lutheran, and Blank. My friend came to work and was telling me about it. She gave me the book she got from the Eibes’s lecture Wow; I didn’t even know what to say. Reading that book gave me step-by-step information about all the steps and the process. It had everything in there. Questions and Answers, recipes, what is going to happen the day before the surgery, the day of, and the days after? They explained everything in details. There were pictures, support systems, buddy list, and information on a monthly support group where they exchange clothes as the weight falls off. I learned more about the process, the mindset of the WL team. They have a team. I found out that with this program you meet every month with your team to see how you are doing. I was getting so excited I could hardly contain myself the next week I scheduled an appointment with him. This one on one appointment with him will be the June 23rd at 11:00 am. We will go over any questions and he will check me out and if he feels fit then I can schedule the surgery with him. I am looking at November 6th 2006. Not sure that will fit into his time frames I guess I will see tomorrow. Well now we are up to date. I guess we will have to see what tomorrow brings will talk at you then. June 26th. Went to see Dr. Eibes Friday he is so nice and told me that if the insurance approves he will do the surgery. I told him I was ready now. He smiled. Now, I wait to see if I get approved. I have changed my mind I want the surgery as soon as possible. So I will see what the surgery schedule is like after we hear from BCBS.