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CVWillis' Blog
 

4 More Days ... Whooo Hooo!

I have 4 more days to go.   I went out to dinner with some friends tonight and I walked into an intervention. They don't want me to have surgery!!!! I was floored because these friends are as overweight or more than I am. I thought that they would be more encouraging because they KNOW how it feels to be overweight. I am sooooooooo amazed that my "skinny" friends are more encouraging. These are friends that I see rarely, so it is not a huge deal. But I ONLY told them because they are overweight like me and I thought THEY would understand and be supportive. I am very disappointed, but I am moving forward with my plans to have surgery on 1/11/2012 @ 7am ... REGARDLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   My daughter isn't gun-ho about it either, but she admits to being selfish because she knows that I'm going to be cooking differently and for a while I am not cooking at all. I've frozen meals for her, but she doesn't usually like left overs ... but I am sure she will get over it.   Yesterday I had my pre-op appt. it was great ... I guess. I was given a lot of information. I was feeling a little overwhelmed. But I am excited about the end results of the surgery, but I am not looking forward to the impending pain. I didn't lose the 6 pounds I gained, but I did lose 4 pounds ... whooo hooo!!! I have learned that low carbs can assist with weight loss!   My fav low carb meal is veggie spicy sausage mixed with spinach, 1/2 oz of cream cheese and spicy Mrs. Dash ... it is soooooo yummy. When I want an extra protein boost I scramble in an egg. I know that after the surgery spicy foods will not be allowed for a while, but until then ... Yaaaay spicy!!!!   Now I need to pack my overnight bag for the hospital and for my stay at my mom's after surgery. I would like to thank EVERYone that contributed to the list of things that are needed after surgery   Good Night!!!!
CVWillis

CVWillis

3
new chapter in life's Blog
 

1 Month Surgery Anniversary

Well yesterday was 1 month since my surgery! And my first fill was on Jan 4th--I got 4cc's. I kind of panicked at first cause when I ate I didnt get that full feeling I thought I was supposed to. But Im measuring my food & sticking to the program. Ill just wait till my next visit in 6 weeks & see what happens. Ive been doing my workouts (not weights yet)---treadmill & elliptical & working w/bands---I feel great! Im down 25 lbs since my pre-op diet started on turkey day. Just losing that 25 lbs has made me feel like a new person. My clothes are loose--even my shoes are!! The only thing that has thrown me off is going back to work---I was able to be off almost a whole month--using vaca, holiday, sick & then my disability time (thank you God!)---so I go back to work & its like all my insecurities came flooding back!! I felt like my clothes werent loose enough--that I had gained back alot of the weight!! I just have to get over how I feel when Im at that place--and how my co-workers make me feel. 2 days back at work & I felt like this LARGE insignificant, invisible, useless person again. Hate that!!! So, to go along w/my physical transformation, Im working on my emotional & mental too---I have such low self-esteem & low self-worth its crazy. To do that, Im forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone!! Im not sitting idle on the couch,watching tv for one. Im signing up for water aerobics & ready to try archery again!! All the things Ive wanted to do---Im doing them!! Archery, fencing, horseback riding----Im all in!! This surgery is my ticket to places!! And Im taking over the workplace!! lol
new chapter in life

new chapter in life

5
Teresa's VSG Blog!
 

Happy Saturday

Hi ya’ll... How is your weekend going? OK I'm getting excited but very nervous about surgery. Things are going well though and I signed my paperwork and found out my time for surgery. I’m hoping I don’t have much nausea after surgery because I'm allergic to some of the anti-nausea medicines. So I'm hoping after surgery I can handle the nausea if I have any... For Christmas we got a pressure cooker and I love it. Today we experimented with making soup and tomorrow we are going to make lentils in it. It cooks the food so fast and when you put meat in the pressure cooker it is so tender. I think this will come in handy. I like making soup in it and will use this later on down the road. But right now I have so start my Liquid Diet soon... So anyway, that’s about it for now, I just wanted to check in. Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend...   Teresa
Tcali

Tcali

0
Teresa's VSG Blog!
 

Brene Brown - The Power Of Vulnerability!

Hello Happy New Year!   I'm glad the holidays are over because now it is time to refocus and prepare for my Surgery. Friday is my Pre-Op appointment and I'm getting very nervous but at the same time excited and ready for this new chapter in my life. At our last support group meeting this great video was mentioned. I found it very helpful for some of my issues. Because one thing I have to remember about Weight Loss surgery is that this is a great tool to help you lose weight, but that is all it does: it doesn't fix everything. It won't fix any issues you have in your life, your head or in your marriage and it won't fix the reason you got that way to begin with > Something you need to face and work on and stuff like that. So I've discovered a few of my issues and found this to be a great video for me so I wanted to share it with you as well. So watch and enjoy: I hope you find it enlightening and helpful like I did.   You Tube: Brene Brown - The Power of Vulnerability! TEDx - Brene Brown - The Power of Vulnerability - YouTube   Until next time take care and have a great day! Teresa
Tcali

Tcali

2
Teresa's VSG Blog!
 

Pre Op Class For Vsg

Hi everyone. Well I had a pre op class the other day that was so informative. My surgeon went over everything about what to expect before surgery, at the hospital, during surgery and after surgery. As well as went into everything we needed to do like with nutrition, vitamins and exercise and everything. It really has helped me with my anxiety about surgery and I feel well informed now. He really prepared us for what to expect. My surgery date is coming up in less then a month now and I'm happy, nervous and excited all at the same time.   Take Care Teresa
Tcali

Tcali

0
Pookeyism's Blog
 

Home After Surgery - Reflective...

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post yesterday. I am home, and there is still pain. I think it has something to do with one of the laparoscopic holes being stitched too - how would I best describe it? tight? It is drawn up and creates a pucker on the side of my tummy, and I FEEL the stitch pulling against the weight of my stomach. It is a sharp, constant tearing feeling that is very difficult to ignore. It almost prevents me from moving in certain directions.   I have pain meds and after some initial reluctance I did began to take them as often as I was told, and in the full dose, so that dulls it, but if I have to move much I still feel it. I have been walking a lot, and I can’t help but pull it then, so walking is much more of a chore than I thought it would be right now. I would have to say I am disappointed that my doctor did not look at my tummy more before he discharged me, I feel like he would have caught that. I plan to bring it up to him on Monday. He is going to have to resolve it somehow, I can’t walk around letting tissue heal in the wrong areas - as is it would be deforming.   Beyond that it all feels a bit surreal. I have just been focusing on fluids, and walking. I think I have had some head hunger but not too much. No tummy hunger that I can think of.   Sipping fluids as much as possible. Very tired, but I was tired before the surgery too. Not to embarrass the guys, but I started my period the day after my surgery, almost 10 days early. I never vary more than about 24 hours off of my calendar, so I was somewhat surprised. I know it has been a pretty intense period, but the meds have totally taken care of that.   My little sister flew in on the 3rd and we went and bought a juicer - and a Wii or Xbox or something that has interactive games - and followed it up with a TV (sneaky - she knows I don't allow game systems or more than one TV, but I have been talked into it). Normally I don't allow the systems or TV in my house but she made a good point - the games that keep you active can be very fun for groups of people, and it will be a way for my friends and I to keep entertained and active and away from the kitchen.   My sister has to be my biggest advocate, even if she doesn't quite understand how her sister decided to go through with it. She is me, but with a better metabolism, and bigger appetite. She knows the struggles I have had in my life, and we have talked a lot this weekend. I was surprised in some of the things she said. I will touch on it again later, maybe, but she feels very sure that my parents are largely responsible for much of my weight. I don't know if I agree with that - but I will have to look at it long and hard, because I have to resolve all issues, and all bad habits, and embrace the good, and develop better - so much to do! It feels overwhelming.   Friends have been so supportive, and caring, and it has made me so proud and thankful to have the people I have. I am also so happy to have found this forum, and to be able to follow my new found friends and do what I can to be supportive.   It feels surreal, in a way I feel like it hasn't kicked in mentally that I have had the surgery. Numb, indifferent, tingling and electric, excited and joyful, scared and uncertain, second guessing and reaffirming - so many emotions.   To anyone I have not followed up with that I have been talking to personally - please bear with me. This has been more than I anticipated, and I am having a kind of re-evaluation of who I am. The hard-ass that weathers everything seems to have almost disappeared. I don’t want that anymore. I want to be able to be flexible and "feel" my feelings. I want to listen to people more, and I want to be heard. I don't know - I am changing more than I thought I would. I think I want this so bad, that I am literally making myself remove my mask, to shed the parts of me that hid behind a wall of bulk. I want to be the person I think I can be, and oddly enough, it is more than just a smaller, healthier me. Phew! I can't even put it into words.   I guess that is all for now, and it is time to walk again!
Pookeyism

Pookeyism

4
blackanese25's Blog
 

Whew! Its Been A Rough Week But Gettin Back To Being A Badass!

So i just wanna throw out there a huge thank you to everyone for their support and I say sometimes if it weren't for this site im not sure what i would do.. lol..   Ok so here are my stats 5'7 HW: 270lbs GW: 250 DoS:238.1 CW:218.5   *So yay finally got my numer back down to the losing side. That makes me happy. Well my week in a nutshell   I wound up going to the E.R for 11 hours because i had severe pain on my left side. They did a contrast with iodine and found no leak... thankfully, but we did find that im allergic to iodine ..lol.. smh. So after 11 hours in the er.. they still had no clue what was wrong with me and sent me home cuz they figured it wasn't anything major so back home and im doin ok. Im gonna go with a self diagnosis of I was just pushing myself too hard.   I am an athlete at heart so i know what im doing when i work out, problem is I also push myself to extremes sometimes especially when i want something, and right now my biggest battle is with myself.. I DO NOT WANT LOOSE SKIN.. I need to get it thru my head that it just might be a reality that i need to face. So I have toned it down like I said that i would in my last post and getting back on the right path.   Im getting in my fluids and im starting to be able to handle food better. Instead of running I am doin a fast walk on an incline. Im still lifting weights, but instead of lifting more lbs, i lowered the lbs and just did more reps to work on toning rather than building muscle which is alleviating some of the pain that i was feeling earlier.   ALL IN ALL... doin pretty darn good.   Best wishes to you all hope your sleeves are making you proud...NOW MAKE YOUR SLEEVE PROUD!
blackanese25

blackanese25

2
Franny26's Blog
 

32 Years Old 40 Pounds Down, About To Be Sleeved...

My name is Frances I am 32 years old...I am so excited because I just found out yesterday my insurance company has approved me for my surgery...My journey began 4 months ago when I was up super late and feeling very depressed about the way my life has turned out...I have been struggling with my weight all my life...I saw an add online for the Lap band procedure, and scheduled an appointment for a Seminar and it was in the surgeons office that I learned about the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy... When the surgeon explained it was cutting more then half of my stomach and removing it permanently I wanted to run out of his office...I was at rock bottom at that point. I thought to myself I can not be this desperate...I had made up my mind that was not for me but if not VSG then what...I went on youtube and started watching VSG before and after video's and VSG journey video's and thank god I did that because now here I am about a month away from my Surgery and 40 pounds lighter...yes I said 40 pounds lighter and I have not been sleeved yet...   I owe a lot to all those people on you tube who were brave enough to tell there stories to the masses...I started seeing Dr. Wiljon Beltre out of Altamante Springs fl, and he has been amazing in guiding me this far to a 40 pound weight loss in 4 months...   Some people who know I am going to have the surgery say why am I having it if I have already lost a nice amount of weight with out it...My answer to them is I want the Surgery to act as a tool to get me to my goal weight of 135lb...My highest weight was 330lb...I am currently 290lb...I have a long way to go and I just know the VSG surgery is going to aid me in getting to my goal...   I am a single mother of 2 wonderful boys Antonio who is 9 years old, and Tristan who is 5 years old...they are my everything and I am doing this 100% for them and myself...I am already a different mother. I take them to the park every chance I get... and we walk there and back...I even get up on the rock wall and climb it with them...Something 40 pounds heavier I would never of done before...I run and play basket ball with them...My next adventure with them is rollerblading...I am going to buy a pair this coming weekend and I am so excited.   So before my life revolved around food...and now it revolves around the activities I can do with my boys...I know after my surgery and my upcoming 155lb weight loss I will be doing even more things with them. Every time I think about all that we are going to do I get so excited...this coming summer I am buying boogie boards for body surfing something I always wanted to do but never felt comfortable before even thinking about doing...   I hope that whoever reads this who may be in a similar situation finds some comfort in knowing they are not alone and anything is possible...
Franny26

Franny26

2
Smilecharmer's Blog
 

4th Day Of Pre-op Diet

Hi, this is the 4th day of my preop diet. Things are going well. Yesterday I did cheat and ate one piece of hot wing from kfc drank one protein shake and ate green beans. Today I am not hungry i ate an apple and drank one 8 oz. bottle of crystal light. I will have my lean chicken and green beans tonight. I can have 2 protein shakes, and a meal on my preop that is what saves me.   It seem like it's getting easier. I know I need to get the protein shakes in but today i didn't want it. I really want this to be successful.   Thanks for stop by and reading my blog.
Smilecharmer

Smilecharmer

6
Nichelle's Blog
 

8 Month Measurements

StartWeight: 273 lbs. **Goal Weight: 157lbs. Pre-op:--- 6 lbs. lost Surgery Weight: 267 1 month: 247 -- -- bmi 39.0 -- -- 20 lbs lost 2 month: 238 -- -- bmi 37.3 -- -- 9 lbs lost 3 month: 229 -- -- bmi 35.9 -- -- 9 lbs lost 4 month: 220 -- -- bmi 34.5 -- -- 9 lbs lost 5 month: 212 -- -- bmi 33.2 -- -- 8 lbs lost 6 month: 207 -- -- bmi 32.4 -- -- 5 lbs lost 7 month: 201 -- -- bmi 31.5 -- -- 6 lbs lost   8 month: 198 -- -- bmi 31.0 -- -- 3 lbs lost   Lost since surgery: -66 Lost Total: -75 lbs.     Overall Goal       Weekly Break Down, lbs. lost pre-op week: 6 lbs week 1 -- 8 lbs. 2 - -5 3 - -3 4 - -2 5 - -2 6 - -3 ~2 months 7 - -3 8 - -1 9 - -2 10 - -6 ~3 months 11 - -0 12 - -2 13 - -1 14 - -3 ~4 months 15 - -0 16 - -4 17 - -2 18 - -1 ~5 months 19 - -1 20 - -3 21 - -3 22 - +1 ~6 months 23 - -0 24 - -3 25 - -2 26 - -1 27 - -2 ~ 7 months 28 - -0 29 - -0 30 - -4 31 - -0 ~ 8 months 32 - -0 33 - -3 34 - -0 35 - -0 36 - - ~ 9 months 37 - - 38 - - 39 - - 40 - - 41 - - 42 - - 43 - - 44 - - 45 - - 46 - - 47 - - 48 - - 49 - - 50 - - 51 - - 52 - -       StartJean size: 24/22 Current Jean size: 14/12       Start Shirt size: 3x/2x Current Shirt size: xl/L   Inches:   Neck Start: 16 Last: 14 Recent: 14 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -2   Upper Arm Start: 15 Last: 13 Recent: 12.5 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -2.5   Forearm Start: 11.5 Last: 10 Recent: 10 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -1.5   Waist Start: 49 Last: 38 Recent: 37.5 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -11.5   Abdomen (belly button) Start: 55 Last: 44.5 Recent: 43.5 Loss: -1 Total Loss: -11.5   Hips Start: 55 Last: 45.5 Recent: 45 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -10   Bust Start: 54 Last: 45 Recent: 44 Loss: -1 Total Loss: -10   Chest Start: 44 Last: 37 Recent: 36 Loss: -1 Total Loss: -8   Thigh Start: 30.5 Last: 24.5 Recent: 24 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -6.5   Calf Start: 17.5 Last: 15.5 Recent: 15.5 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -2     1st month loss: -19.5 in 2nd month loss: -9 in 3rd month loss: -13.5 in 4th month loss: -6 in 5th month loss: -2 in 6th month loss: -6 in   7th month loss: -4.5   8th month loss: -5.0       Total Lost: -65.5 inches     Christmas Goal: Start weight 207 Goal weight 193 End goal 198 **Goal missed by 5 lbs. Not do so hot on these goals, but I will continue to keep making them so that I have something to strive for and a number to which I can measure by.     Valentines Goal:   Start weight 198   Goal weight 190   7 weeks – 8 lbs.          
Nichelle

Nichelle

0
CAPEOPL's Blog
 

Im New To The Group

Hello Im Tina and I going thur the process now to have the VSG. I have already gone to my 1st office visit. Ive done my blood work. I have to do a stress test on 1/31. I cant wait to get my surgery date. Im sooooo excited and I just cant hide it.
CAPEOPL

CAPEOPL

2
Happylife's Blog
 

My Stricture

Thanks guys. So happy to hear Meemee is Starting to feel better. My Stricture was caused by misinsertation of the bougie ( being pushed in to far) And the tauntness of the stomach being pulled across the bougie before stapleing. It is a complication of the surgery. Complications DO NOT happen often but when they do it is 100% you. My doctors had never seen this before. They are a centre of excellence. I am so grateful I had such careing doctors. And that I didnt end up with a gastric bypass or worse massive medical bills. As I am a Canadian with ironically no medical coverage in the states. I live very close to seattle so I would drive down with my husband for care. Any questions are welcome. Oh, by the way I feel great now with no major issues just reflux that I take omeprizol for. And I am 10 lbs away from goal!
Happylife

Happylife

0
sheilamj1fan's Journal
 

Forgot To Post On Yesterday Day 12 On Liquids

I am soooo proud of myself on 01/06/2012 I:   Ran three miles and walked three miles, which totaled 30 miles for the week! My goal is to complete 42 miles by Sunday 01/08/2012!!   I didn't do that well on getting my protein in, but I had:   Cream of mushroom soup (watery) Vitamins 60 oz of water Mexican style soup   God bless!
sheilamj1fan

sheilamj1fan

0
Miguel Angel Quezada's Blog
 

3 Day Post-op Lapband With Gastric Plication

Good evening my Friends,   This is going my first blog even thought I've been following this site site for a month already, Thank you for all your support. I had my surgery on January 4, everything went well i had a great experience not problems @ all. but since I left the hospital I have only been able to drink a couple of ounces at a time. i have no hungry but gases are killing me. gas X doesn't seen to work, walking or anything. i hope this get Better. please let me know your experience,   I started this process on November 28 with my first seminar and 265 pounds ,star liquid diet on December 25 with 258 and after surgery on january 5 i had 243.   thanks
Miguel Angel Quezada

Miguel Angel Quezada

3
koriswlj's Blog
 

It's Finally Become Real!

So I remember the first time I ever heard of any weight loss surgery. I was 19 and my mom went under the knife for the Gastric Bypass. I was so excited for her. She had been heavy all my life and recently found out she was diabetic. I remember my sister and I joking that there is no way she is getting skinnier then us and we went on short-winded diets. I met my now husband that same year and he even went to the hospital with me to visit her. She was in longer because she had complications. Ever since 2004 I always wanted to go the other route where I worked out and ate healthier for short periods of time. I never thought I would ever consider surgery ever!   But, it was in 2010 my husband starting telling me I should look into the surgery. (Not negatively he knew I wanted to lose weight and is very supportive). but it wasn't until 2011 I finally took a good look at my health insurance at work. I was amazed when I found out that they included it in their coverage! Bless you Marriott. So I first went to my parents because not only did my mother have surgery and experience have physical complications but the 3rd party center that helped her get approved for the surgery set her up at a hospital with a doctor out of her network. So my father was very worried about me seeing the fine print so that I didn't end up with any mystery costs. After getting their blessing, I moved forward in my journey and in May 2011 started my 6 month supervised diet. I remember not thinking twice... I wanted gastric bypass. But then the doctor suggested the sleeve and his knowledge and these forums changed my mind completely. I had everything going well and then there was a bump in the road. Come to find out at the last minute literally that I could not get approved for the surgery because the hospital was not deemed a "Center of Excellence" which was a stipulation of Marriott when they chose the benefit. But God is good and i was able to get an appointment at new hospital and 2 weeks later was approved for surgery!   My approval was January 3rd at 9:30am. I remember seeing the number come across my phone and held my breath lol... but leading up to that moment with the small stall that occurred...I couldnt believe how I had let myself start to think. See on the 2nd my doctor called me to tell me they denied me but really they had just read the letter wrong because it was sent out before the holiday break and the problem had fixed itself the nxt day. So I remember thinking on the way home that maybe I'm just meant to be overweight. I really thought this could be my destiny. But like a Weight Watchers leader once taught me ... delete delete delete.. negative thoughts. And here I am now about a month away from surgery ecstatic. I am all the feelings that everyone else has had on this forum but I am so excited to be the me I feel is trapped inside this heavier body!   I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a lil scared. I'm not really scared of the procedure itself but just the aftercare. I want to eat right and take care of myself right and get the most "bang for my buck" like they say. I can only take it one day at a time... but feb 13th can't come soon enough
koriswlj

koriswlj

0
A Year of Possibilities
 

Post-op Day 2: Today's Entertainment Brought To You By The Letter G

So, today I am feeling a bit weird. Weak. Stoned (as one of my bandster friends said). Or like I just took some antihistamines. I think this is because I did not eat nearly enough yesterday. Not just protein, but anything. I wasn't hungry. I'm not hungry today, but I'm making myself eat. Frozen fruit pop, stock with protein added, jello. The doctor even said I can do yogurt at this point but, as I'm not a huge fan I would prefer not. I also did not get enough water in yesterday, so I'm having to remind myself to drink, drink, drink. Which leads me to the letter G.   G stands for Gas. Yes, gas. I have gas. On surgery day, the gas was really noticeable. It made me feel like someone punched me in my gut (another G). As the days progress, the gas gets less, but it is still there nonetheless. Thus, I make a point of getting up and moving frequently. This results in some rather significant belches, followed by my utterance of another G: "That was glorious." I'm not saying this to anyone in particular, as I live alone. I'm not even saying it to my cat, who is very sad that she cannot climb up on my belly for cuddles. I simply say it because each large belch really is glorious.   The not so glorious end of the gas is the farting. When I feel a fart come along, I must extricate myself from my bed and go to the bathroom because, more often than not and my apologies for the TMI, the fart is accompanied by diarrhea. Granted, this could be worse. My bathroom is only a few steps from my bed and the diarrhea is not of the sort that results in an RBA (raw, burning a**hole). So, as it is right now, I am accepting of the farting.   Yet another end of the gas is the third G for today's installment: Gurgling. When I walk, I gurgle. When I lay, I gurgle. And when I drink, I gurgle even more. I have a veritable symphony of gurgling going on in my gullet. I should start laying some notes down on staff, that's how musical my insides have become. I am like Pooh Bear. There is a rumbly in my tumbly.   Tomorrow, I am hoping for less gas and more feeling like myself. But for today, I will continue my Will & Grace marathon and enjoy the cacophony of sounds emanating from my abdomen.
meloney

meloney

6
lgwallace's Blog
 

I Have My First Fill Tomorrow!

I am 6 weeks out of lap band surgery and have lost 27lbs and gone from 6 insulin shots a day to 2! I have noticed that I can eat more than I could 2 weeks ago, and the weight loss slowed after going back to regular food. That makes sense, but I am glad to be having my first fill tomorrow. I think the timing is perfect. I catch myself wanting to slip into old habits (unhealthy snacks, larger portions) I even missed 4 days of my Food Diary which I have been faithful with. I know I must be diligent in my behavior changes in order to be successful for life. I am using this first fill as my wake-up call and my path back to my regiment. I am also nervous that my Doctor will be disappointed with my progress. I feel like I'm not doing as well as I should be, but I know I will do better after the fill. I just don't want to be dependent on fills to keep me in line forever. This is on me and I must succeed if I want to live a longer life. Wish me luck!
lgwallace

lgwallace

0
GonnaBHotMama's Blog
 

Speed Bumps...

An update to my journey. In December, I worked hard and fast to get my required paperwork together for the insurance company. The coordinator at the surgeon's office said that she would get it sent off before the year ended since two of my 6 months of non medical WL proof was in 2009 and all the proof needs to be within 24 months. Unfortunately she did not get it sent off. We discussed it and she called the insurance company about the problem, since I felt that I did not want to wait another 3 months to get the proof I already had. I was majorly peeved that my information was not sent off in time. I am going to complete a month with my NUT and then send off what we have. I am hoping that I get someone who is in a very good mood and approves me despite the time issues with my non medical proof. Something is telling me to go ahead and that if they deny, then appeal. I am sending in additional info, like my high cholesteral numbers and any new info from my Rheumatologist visit the 16th of January. We are sending everything off Feb.6th, so hopefully I am approved. I will be bugging the heck outta the insurance company in the hopes that they approve and approve quickly. I am thinking about adding a doctor's note to my submission since he saw me for a physical and we discussed my losing weight, which did not work. I hope that can add to the non medical proof as well. I am anxious to get all of this going and can only pray that the outcome will be what is meant to be.
GonnaBHotMama

GonnaBHotMama

0
2 Long A-livin Large's Blog
 

Regular Dr. Said Something Suprising Today....

Mountain Cedar is thick in the Texas air this week. I have been miserable, sneezing, coughing, throat itching and eyes watering and itching. I finally broke down and got an appointment with a doctor (not my regular dr.). He saw in my file that I'm seeing a bariatric doctor. After a brief discussion he said, "Many of the women who get those surgeries end up putting the weight right back on in 5 years." I was totally shocked.   I wouldn't say that his comment has made me change my mind about the surgery....but it is making me think hard about the usefullness of it.
faddiscc4

faddiscc4

6
Caribear's Blog
 

Informational Seminar And More Mom Issues

I had my informational seminar on Wednesday. My mom and boyfriend came along with me, which was awesome. The seminar was really interesting. One of the surgeons did the presentation, and he talked about some of the history of obesity and the reasons why it's so hard for us to lose weight. I did not know that eating only an extra 200 calories per day can add up to gaining 100 pounds in five years ( !!!). It was really eye-opening.   After he went through all of that, he started discussing all of the surgery options they offer at their practice. The four he talked about were lap-band, gastric sleeve, traditional bypass, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS). He was very thorough and did not seem to be favoring any one procedure over another; he discussed both the advantages and disadvantages of each type. At the end he had some of his existing patients come in and share their success stories. It was very inspiring.   When the seminar was over, the surgeon stuck around to answer any private questions. I came up and asked him about my fibromyalgia and if it would cause any specific complications. He said that it would not be a problem and that I would be ok to go ahead and proceed with any surgery I chose. I then mentioned that I was interested in the lap band. He told me that in general, they tend to discourage people with a higher BMI from choosing the band because it has "limited average loss of excess weight." He had mentioned earlier that most of the higher BMI patients choose the BPD/DS because you can lose up to 80% of your excess weight vs. 60% with the band (average). But he also told me that it would be something we could discuss at my first consultation.   Personally, I still know that the band is the right decision for me. It is the safest of all the procedures they discussed, with the lowest mortality and short term complication rate. Plus there is hardly any risk for malnutrition because the stomach is not removed, just restricted. I know from previous surgeries that it takes me a long time to recover, so I can not imagine choosing to have the BPD/DS. It is an open procedure, not laparoscopic, and there is a lot of cutting and rearranging involved. Neither can I imagine doing the bypass. I would consider the sleeve, but since it is a fairly new procedure, my insurance will not cover it. Plus my boyfriend quit his driving job yesterday, so there's no way I can do self-pay either...so that only leaves the lap-band.   Yesterday I called my mom to discuss the seminar with her and see if it changed her mind at all. She first said that it had encouraged her to decide to lose some weight this year, and that we could do it together. Then she said that she still didn't want me to do it. She really feels that God will heal my fibromyalgia, and then I can work out more and lose the weight on my own. But she is forgetting something. The fibromyalgia is not the problem. I have been obese for most of my life. I have lost considerable amounts of weight in the past, but it has ALWAYS come back. I have never been able to lose any large amount of weight and keep it off for any reasonable amount of time. I'm not bad at losing the weight, I'm bad at keeping it off. That's why I feel I should go ahead with the band. It will help me keep my portions small and remind me to keep my choices healthy.   Acting on an idea I got from another brilliant member of this site, I went out and bought a cookbook for weight loss surgery patients and have been eating from it for almost a week now. The food is yummy, easy to fix, and my family likes it too. Plus, I have lost another five pounds! I told my mom about this and she said "See? You don't need the surgery! You're doing great on your own!" *sigh* But at least I know I will actually be able to cook something after the surgery that will taste good and that my son will actually eat. Monday morning I will head to my family doctor to start my nine-month supervised diet, and hopefully he will let me stay with this since I have had some success with it already. And hopefully my insurance company won't deny my surgery because I've lost weight.   All in all, I'm pretty excited and cautiously optimistic.
Caribear

Caribear

2
JoyceReal's Blog
 

Pcp Visit Today

All is well I am now down 26 pounds, and I feel wonderful. My blood pressure was perfect. My sugar was good. I am down to one pill a day for my diabetes. I love my band! I still have issues with eating too fast, not chewing enough, but mostly when I do not pay close attention. I am logging my food every day on sparkpeople. and the stubborn ole scales moved down today after 3 weeks of staying the same. Then I am at work and I can hardly sit still, and I am thinking what is this crazy feeling, It makes me want to get up and move could it possible be ENERGY!! OMG
Joyce Real

Joyce Real

4
MsAnn6550's Blog
 

January 6, 2012

Happy New Year (she says sarcastically). What can I say. Weighed in at Curves yesterday and had actually gained a pound since last weigh in. And instead of losing some inches, I actually had gained some inches. WTF!!!! I know I didn't go work out during the week between Christmas and New Year's, and that I had cheated. But I didn't think it was that bad. Hubby is getting on my nerves and that makes me turn to food, mainly M&M's and Cheetoes. His complaints about his health are getting to me. All last week he said he could barely walk. The grandchildren were here for New Year's and he stayed in his den/smoking room 90% of the time. Then the very day they went home he took his truck, picked up his fishing buddy and stayed gone for 3 hours, buying a battery for the truck and getting it washed. Tuesday I got him to go see a Chiropractor for his "back pain". Now after three visits he is sure that the adjustments have caused him to bleed internally and made his hernias worse. He is even telling me what his stools look like. I get so tired of listening to his complaints. I never know when to take it as serious signs or to just ignore him. Am going to daughter's house Sunday for a couple of days, to baby sit the grand dog. Will be back Tuesday. He's not going. The break will do me good even though I know I will have to check in with him several times a day. Started Curves Smart today. Having the machines make me give it my all will make me do better, I hope. If that is so, then maybe I'll pay some more and do the Curves Complete and try their diet plan. Mainly I just want to get out of this "funk" I am in am get on with my life, instead of feeling like I want to cry and sneak food.
MsAnn6550

MsAnn6550

2

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