tikirt
July 30th 2007,
My journey starts here. Today I went for my initial consultation with Dr. Schumacher, gastric by pass surgeon. they took all my information we talked abou the surgery and all my questions were answered. I was given the packet to make my appointments with the exercise physiologist, nutritionist and psychologist.
July 31st 2007,
I made my appointments for all the screening process. I also made an appointment with Dr. Fernberg my primary to get some paper work filled out and an EKG. I would feel much more comfortable getting an EKG prior to any surgery. I'm not letting myself get excited at this point because I don't want to be disappointed. I have thought about gastric by-pass surgery for 3 years and insurance has always had exclusion to the surgery. My new insurance does not have exclusion. So I am HOPEFUL. 
August 6th 2007,
I went and had an EKG at Dr. Fenberg's office, it was fine and he gave me a clean bill of health to have the surgery.
August 9th 2007,
I took the paperwork from Dr. Fenberg's office to Dr. Schumacher's office. I met with the dietician, exerxise physiologist and the phyciatrist today, they told me that I was a good candidate for surgery, they will be submiting the report to Dr. Schumacher and then Dr. Schumacher's office will submit to the insurance company.
August 16th 2007,
1 week, hopefully no more than 4 weeks to go, before I get a reply from the insurance company.
August 23rd 2007,
2 weeks, I will start checking my messages at home and hopefully they will call. SOON...
August 28th 2007,
My surgeons office called today, I have been approved, OH MY GOD, I HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!!!
I really thought I was going to have to fight for an approval, I have been looking forward to getting approved for so long, I can't believe it is really happening.
August 29th 2007,
Okay it has sunk in a little, I'm happy and scared but so looking forward to being healthy and being able to exercise and do things I would never do. go to an amusement park, go horse back riding, and just not feeling tired all the time. I can't wait: the surgery can not be scheduled fast enough now.
October 1st 2007,
I went for my pre-testing today. My husband accompanied me to this appointment. He wanted to know everything that would be going on from admittance to discharge and then home care. Surgery is scheduled for October 9th.
October 9th 2007,
I had surgery at 3:00pm and woke in recovery around 7:30pm. My oxygen levels were really low so my hubby sat with me and tried to keep me awake so every few minutes he talked to me which was annoying, I just wanted to sleep. So I don't remember much except that around 1:00 in the morning a nurse wanted me to get out of bed and walk, I was so sick from the medications, I had the dry heaves. Luckily it did not hurt because of the pain meds.
October 19th 2007,
I had my 10 day appointment today, my staples were removed and I can now start a soft diet. I have lost 14lbs.
November 10th 2007
Today I had my one month appointment, I have lost 25 lbs. I can feel the difference already, and it is so weird to step on a scale and be losing all the time. I have not had any problems at all, no vomiting or dumping. I follow the diet to the tee.
January 10th 2008,
Today I had my 3 month appointment, I have lost 55 lbs., my doctor said that was good and pretty much the norm.
January 31st 2008,
I weigh 227 lbs down 75 lbs. I have 80 lbs to go to reach goal and 25 to reach 100 lbs. lost
April 10th 2008,
6 month appoint, will report back later. Okay, had my 6 month appointment. My labs are great, low on potassium but that was it. Doctor has that I lost 91 lbs. but I weighed myself the morning of surgery on my scales and my weight was 301 lbs. and now my scales read 205 lbs. so I'm going with my scales. You know them doc. scales are always higher, I think they all do that on purpose. LOL Doctor said that I'm right on target and to keep up the good work. So I see him in another 3 months. 
