Profile: Ann Marie H Surgery: Post Op , PA, USA Personal Comments 1/2/04 Guess I should have learned how to do this posting thing a long time ago when I could have kept track of every event. I have it written in a folder but I won't go into detail. So here I am starting out the new year looking and feeling as I did last year. My hope was to have surgery before the end of 2003 but my insurance company has not provided me that opportunity. I want the DS because I feel that is the best surgery for me and my lifestyle. Plus I think it is a better surgery in the aspect of keeping more of a normal stomach, keeping the pyloric valve intact, reducing the possible need for hernias and anamastosis problems. To make a long story short, my doc sent in my letter for pre-certification which was denied. I appealed that denial and was recently denied that also. Now I'm at a point where my employer is looking at it along with our benefits company. From what I understand they could actually overturn the ins. company because my employer is self insured. I won't know anything probably for a week or more so when I called my doc today he said I can't get started with any preop testing because now the ins. co's are not paying for those unless you've been approved etc. It's a big racket as far as I'm concerned. Anyway - I have this really good feeling that my quitting smoking and really preparing myself for all this is working. I have a good feeling that I will win this battle. I am afraid to put my pic up here because I am fearful that someone I know will see it. Plus I don't think I look good in pictures either. I really have to do up the makeup and have the picture taken at a good angle for me to like it. At this point, I do not want many people around me to know that I will be doing this surgery. I don't know if it's because I am ashamed of myself for not being able to lose weight and keep it off on my own. I'll keep updating as I go. 1/29/04 - Well here it is my birthday - one year older and no closer to having surgery than I was when I started this whole thing. It gets upsetting but I am still working between the doctor, my employer and the benefits company to have a phone conference and see if we can get anywhere. 2/1/04 - Well, finally. A date has been set for a phone conference. It will be on 2-11. I won't have any definitive answers that day, but at least there is hope knowing that something is going to happen soon. Whether it be another denial or not I don't know but I am thinking positive. 3/15/04 - Wow, its been longer than I thought since I last posted. The phone conference is long over and I still know nothing more that I did before. We continue to play the waiting game. The benefits company didn't quite make a full decision when someone decided they would try to use an outside source company who deals with appeals. They should have an answer for me within the next week. Again, I doubt it will be in my favor. I'm ready to call the doc and say go for the RNY if they tell me no for the DS. Tomorrow is my EGD and we are supposed to get a bunch of snow. I hope it doesn't snow too much so that I couldn't get there. Going to finish my last few sips of soda now cuz I can't eat or drink after midnight. I continue to pray that all good things will come to those who wait. I wait. 3/16/04 - Had the EGD this a.m. It was a piece of cake. The only unpleasant thing was the spraying of the novacaine into the throat - and that wasn't really all that bad. The nurses were terrific - they explained everything to a "T" before it even happened. Had to cancel the dietician/nutritionist appointment due to the increasing amount of snow. Will have to reschedule that. 3/17/04 - I've had it- went to HR today to see if they heard anything. She said she got an email from the Health Advocate people and that it would be another 2-3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are driving me crazy. I don't know what I can do but I will be on someone's butt tomorrow. 4/28/04 - Oh my - it's been so long since I posted last. I have been so wrapped up in appeals, conversations with my HR department at work etc. Here's the low down - I was denied the DS - had the benefits people we deal with at work take a look into this. They couldn't decide which way to go, so they brought in another company for some advice. They told me to go to one of two surgeons at teaching hospitals. One in NY City and the other in Baltimore MD. I chose the NY one since it was closer to home. I also copied my attorney on one of my emails since I thought the wording was getting a bit difficult to understand. Well, that did it I'm sure. All of a sudden all the emails I was getting from my HR dept appeared to be worded very carefully. I'm sure they went through the legal department before they came to me. Anyway to make a long story short - I was told that I would have to pay the second opinion fee (450.00) out of pocket - I don't have that kind of money. It was also not a guarentee by any means that it would rule in my favor. My employer said that they were gathering this information to see if they wanted to change the entire plan for the future - I was definitely not told that earlier. I was told that all this legwork was to see if they would pay for MY surgery only. Essentially, this could have taken months or even years. I decided that it was not meant to be. I have decided to go for the RNY so last week my doc resubmitted for the RNY. Here I am a week later approved - or pre-authorized should I say. I am so damn excited today that I can barely sit still to type. I actually am going to try to get a picture of me up on the site now. I was hesitant to do it in the past, thinking that I would never get to see a newer one of me in the future. Now I know that I will get that chance. But most of all, I want to be able to walk for more than a half hour and not have my hips or back hurt. I want to be able to run again. I want to be able to do a flight of steps and not sound as though I've run the mile. I want to be able to get in and out of my car easier. I want to be able to not have my urinary incontinence. I want my sleep apnea to go away - surgery didn't help it - maybe this will. I want to have the energy to live again. I know this is not going to be a bed of roses along the way. I need to remind myself that this is going to be a totally different way of life. I won't be able to eat like I do now. I pray to God that in HIS infinite wisdom that He is going to guide and help me through this. I pray for so much today. I am thankful for so much today. 4/29/04 - I am still on cloud nine. The fear hasn't set in. And I hope it never does. I don't want to sound like this will be a piece of cake (pun) because I know it won't be. I'm just trying to stay positive yet realistic. Forgot to mention yesterday that my date will be on June 8th. 4/30/04 - What a day to end this month - beautiful warm sunny weather and a letter from the postman with my pre-op instructions for all the testing I will need. Here's the list: an EGD (already done) PAT -(Pre-Admission Testing) 2wks ahead Chest x-ray and bloodwork. Provide copy of mammogram and PAP test to have been done within last year - (just had them done so that's done) Dietician consult Pulmonary function test Cardiac clearance - EKG and a stress test History and physical from PCP Also have to increase proteins, daily vitamins with iron, increase activity and try to lost 5-10 pound pre-op. Also stop smoking one month before surgery (yeah - I did that in January) Not a bad list - I should be able to get all that done in a few days. I'll just try to schedule as many as possible on one day, then another. Still excited today. Started telling my family about my surgery date. I think I'll be writing here much more often as I will probably use this as my journal. 5-4-04 Got some of my appointments scheduled before surgery. So far - Chest x-ray, blood work, dietician and pcp for H&P. Tomorrow is the day my boss gets to tell my co-workers I'll be out of the office on medical leave for 3 weeks. Can't wait to hear the responses. Not even my boss know the reason and I won't be telling them tomorrow either. 5-5-04 Today my boss called us all in to a 5 minute meeting to tell my co-workers that I was going out on a medical leave and I wished to keep my purpose private. She asked that they respect my wishes. I think that was really great. 5-6-04 Well, I was just thinking - this really is going to happen - and it won't be long. I got my list of all my appointments. I have two different appointments every week for the next three weeks so I'll be having quite a bit of time that I'll be missing from work. Probably take 1/2 days. Then probably work on a Saturday to stay up to date. More excitement. Making my lists of things I need to do, to buy. Generally keeping busy. 5-12-04 Today I was scheduled for my stress test. Supposed to take about 3-4 hrs I was told - plus I have had them before so I knew what to expect. Well I wasn't expecting to wait 1 1/2 hrs. just to get in the room. Then of course there is the scan itself, then the wait and the injection and more waiting, then another scan. Needless to say it took much longer I never got out till 1:45 pm and was scheduled to be back to work by noon. NOT. Called the boss. While I was there I checked in to see if they had any extra time to do my nutrition eval (scheduled for tomorrow am - another time to need off of work). They were really great and worked around some other things so that I won't have to make the trip together. The stress test was fine - it was the nutritional eval that really has me stressed. I knew this was going to be a huge lifestyle change in my eating habits and even after reading and listening to people at my support group meeting, but to literally look at 1/4 cup of food and think that that will be all I'm eating at a meal - it's too much to comprehend. The dietician gave me a good idea about starting to measure out my food now so that I can see exactly what portion sizes I eat now, compared to what I will eat - and to start cutting down now. Well, I did that at dinner tonight. I guess I can be especially happy that what I made for dinner tonight really sucked - that way I didn't mind throwing out what was left. Anyway - I need to pray on this some more - I definitely know I will be using my counselor to get through some of the tough times. Next week - the pulmonary function test and PAT's. 5/30/04 - Wow - only 9 days away and I will become a loser!!!!! Sometimes it's too hard to comprehend that the thing that I've been all of my life since I can remember (fat) is going to go away. So much has been done in the last week or so. I had my pulmonary functions done and passed without problems. I was really scared of that one since I've smoked for most of my adult life. The PAT's were fine and the woman (Audrey I love you) who did my bloodwork for the ABG's was wonderful. It hurt like hell, but for less than a minute. Audrey was great at it. Next was on to the history and physical from my pcp who gave me much reassurance that I will do well. There are two things that weigh on my mind significantly - 1 is needing to be on a ventillator post surgery because of my being a smoker until a few months ago and 2 - getting a blood clot and dying. PCP thinks that all will go fine with the breathing part and this is the first time I've ever mentioned to anyone about the fear of the clot. Guess it's good to see it in writing - that way I am making myself very aware of it. It becomes real this way. I admit to my fear. My 13 year old son has made me very proud of him - he is being inducted into the Junior National Honor Society. The ceremony is Wed. night - that will mean I have to skip my last support group meeting before surgery which I wanted to attend, but I know this is more important. I am so proud of him - did I say that??? Speaking of kids, I wasn't going to do this, and I don't know if I can, but I am going to try today. My kids are both away for the day and I think I am going to try to write my letters to them today. Don't know if it will work or not. I've been so up, that I don't want to come down so maybe it's better that I don't. We'll see. Will update later. 6/3/04 Only 4 more days till I'm off to becoming a new person. I can't believe this is happening to me. Someone should pinch me. I keep thinking that something will come up last minute that they have to cancel. I hope not. One more day of work. People are asking what I'm going out on medical leave for and all I say is surgery. If they ask for more details, I tell them it's private. One person even said, "well if it's a hysterectomy, I think it's the best thing I ever did 2 years ago." How the heck do people come up with the things they do??? How does she know it's not a freakin brain tumor. Most have been good though - just saying I hope everything is ok. I reassure them I'll be fine. I never did write the letter to the kids. Still don't know if I will or not. Will be looking over my will before I go just to make sure it's all intact. Nothing else new. I'm not panicking yet - don't know what I'm supposed to feel like, but I feel very normal so far. 6/6/04 Well, maybe it hit me today. I'm so emotional. Crying on and off - had huge fight with my child. Cleaning, painting, back is hurting. Yep, I guess this is the real thing. It will be good to be home alone tomorrow to take all my measurements, shower, shave my legs, get everything together. A day of little things that need to be completed. Wish me luck. 6/7/04 - Oh what can I say - yesterday was the pits. This morning started out the same - thought maybe I should cancel this surgery for my kids sake - but I don't think that's right. Whatever will be will be. God will see us all through this. As down as I was, I realized all of these total "strangers" who are not really strangers here on OH. Just people I haven't met in my life yet. They have written me on my support page. Little did I ever think that it would be this outpouring of support. I know tomorrow will go fine. Today is my day to rest. I will take my measurements and hang out today. Just one table full of papers that I feel the need to get organized. Otherwise ready to go. See you all on the other side.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh how litte was i prepared for the amount of post op pain. and yest it continues today. YUK !!!!!!!!!I'm writing this in small sections as they happened daily, but there was no way I would have been able to been in my chair typing with the amount of pain. Here goes June 8th - 6 a.m. into the hospital - had to take a complete betadine scrub shower. Just means that they give you a special sponge soaked in a betadine (goldish brown color) solution which is a cleansing solution used in the o.r. You take your shower in this. They got my vital information etc. and then at 7:30 took me to the O.R. holding room. Said see ya later at this point to my mother, mother-in-law, and brother. Talked with nurses, techs, anesthestists etc. Tried to start a line where they could access blood and blood pressure every minute during surgery. Just like having those dreaded ABG's done. I told them to give up until they had me under, it was hurting too bad. no one listening. also foumd out at that time that the anesthesiologist that she would NOT be with me the entire time. She would be there at the beginning and then she would be "filtering" throughout 3 or 4 different OR's throughout the entire time. Being in my room about every 15 min. I was off the wall then (in my mind). Told them to stop everything, they gave me time to think - called back over the anesthesiologist - told her to give me time to think - she reassures me in her best voice that they do this everywhere. Wanted to know what other hospitals I've ever been at and that the ones I've been at they do the same. Still not reaussuring me. Want to wait for my doc. Told him I was just about to walk out at that time. He and I talked. I have so much confidence in him, that I'm willing to go on. They must have given me the versid somewhere in there because i don't remember anything after that. This was 8:20 a.m. Woke up in my room - don't remember recovery at all. Evidently it was close to 4:15 pm - my family hugged me and I told them all to leave as there woould be nothing they could do for me now. They just wanted to make sure I was out of anesthesia and all was ok. 6-9-04 Slept most of the day and the next. Every time I woke up I was in pain and sure enough it was about time for another pain shot. Naturally I'd be back to sleep in no time with a little morphine and some re-positioning with ALOT of help from the nurses. Attempted clear liquids. They stayed down, but like I said, I slept too much and couldn't consume much. 6-11-04. You want me to what???????? GO HOME!!!!!!!! Yeah right, how am I going to be able to handle that. I went for one walk to the end of my room and back on the 8th, one walk to the nurses station on the 9th. All the way around the floor one time on the 10th and you want me to get up, take a shower and go home. Well, I guess you know best. LOL !!!!! Nursing staff took a good two hours until I could actually leave the floor. They are swamped with patients and just can't get to everyone, so I sit quietly and wait with my mother in law and son, who keep taking my bags and flowers out to the car. Too bad later on we found out I left my eye glasses. Home we go - home to bed after getting my meds. My poor mother in law who can't stand to drive on a highway came to get me, and I drove her crazy in a town neither of us knew exactly. Now my take is that if you make a wrong turn, you just turn around and start over - she got so upset and frustrated. I'll be surprised if she ever drives again..... Anyway - home we go, try to sit, no go, try to lay down, no go. Finally propped enough damn pillows up and around me that I can same I am not quite comfortable, but at least in a position to get some rest. Gotta admit my kids did help me move around. I can walk, just can't get up from lying or half lying. I knew I needed that recliner but it's too expensive. I'll learn to live without it I guess. 6-15-04It's now a week post op and I feel like shit still. I keep wondering when I will feel better. I can see that each day I am able to do a tiny bit more, but that tiny is very very small. I'm still in so much pain that I'm on the roxicet every 5-6 hours. What's that you say? I need more food in me!!!!!!!!! Yeah right, welll all I'm doing is s/f popsicles, water and a bit of juices, mostly the boost breeze for protein. Unfortunately my bowels have begun to work again, and this black diarrahea and the gas are just a bit to much for me. And this, coming out of the words of a woman who was a nurses' aide at 17 years old and cleaned up all kinds of messes through out my medical career. Anyway, the black is old blood in the bowel, nothing to worry about and at least I am not constipated. Found my first food that I don't think liked me. Or maybe it was just the timing. Had stomach aches and gas and the runs again for about an hour. The good thing is that I weighed in this a.m. and am down 8 lbs. 6-17-04 Went for my 10 day check up. Had the last damn drain pulled. It hurt like hell for about 2 min. afterwards, but was ok now as I look back. I said this earlier, if you wait too long to write about this stuff, what looks like one thing when it's happenening vs. looking back on it - well the looking back seems much easier. I remember in the office the terrible pain for about 5 seconds, which relieved slowly but still felt achey for days. Now that I'm up and around, I look back and say - yeah it hurt, but it didn't last too long. Anyway - took alot out of me to do the trip to the docs. But still a good result - down 10#. 6-18 - things are getting a bit easier. No pain meds so once I'm feeling up to par and moving a bit better, I can drive. I'll do a small trip to Walmart soon i'm sure. 6-19 - They say "what a difference a day makes". Well, let me tell you, it does. I can't believe the turn around today. Still tiring, but able to move around the house much easier, no napping, able to eat a bit more. Still only got in about 25 gms of protein. That included tuna, yogurt, egg, and chicken salad ( about four bites only). Just can't seem to get it down. Not that anything is stuck, jut I feel too full all the time. 6-20 - Did I say something about how much difference a day makes. Today I feel like I've not had surgery as far as the feeling good part. Yeah, I have some pain or discomfort when moving certain ways, but otherwise it seems like most any other day. Still can't do much though. Washed some outdoor furniture by sitting in a chair while wasnhing another one, and rinsing it off with a hose. Doesn't sound like much but hey - it's tiring. Can't lift the table to where I want it, so it will have to wait till the kids come home later. I bought 4 tables and a chair for outside for 15.00 at a yard sale. I already have the umbrella, so looks like I can sit outside and read now with my water bottle next to me. Today so far, food has been better to me. I had a yogurt (3gms) and a snack of 2 tblsp of peanut butter (5gms protein) so far today. That's better than I've been doing. Good news - down another 2 #. That puts me at 18 total - from my highest point - and down 13 since surgery 12 days ago. WOO HOO !!!!!!!!!!! 6/22/04 - Well - 2 weeks ago today I was operated on. I was in such significant pain (10+) that I wished I had never done this. I know everyone kept telling me that it gets better. Well, thank you everyone - it has gotten significantly better. I do not have pain per se. I have positions I get into that are uncomfortable, they are painful to get out of because of suture lines or muscle weakness. NOTHING compared to what I had. Although I cannot say I'm 100% back to normal I'd have to give it around an 85% - maye a bit higher. If I could only get to sleep at night would be helpful. I still can't sit in a low chair and sitting in general for a long period of time is tough. Feels like everything is being squeezed together. I tire easily and don't have a heck of a lot of motivation. I have a wonderful neighbor who brought over a bunch of food today - most of which I cannot have - but that's ok - it's homemade and it's stuff I don't have to cook for my son. What a selection. Lasagne, stuffed chicken breast, potato salad, chicken salad, fruit salad, fresh veggies in oil and vinegar, rolls. I did have the chicken salad for dinner - yummy. Can't wait to have more tomorrow. And my son absolutely loved the chicken breast. I never thought I would actually feel this good 2 weeks after. Eating is a bit of a problem. I'm trying to get used to my little tummy. I can't believe how quickly it tells me to stop. It hurts a bit at first, but goes away a few minutes later. It's a good way for me to NOT test limits. It's my tool and I love it. So - out two weeks and down 20# from my highest weight and down 15# since the morning of surgery. May not be a lot for others, but I'm tickled pink. Proud to be a loser. 6-23-04 Got the official call from work today. I will go in on the 29th for a consult with their doc to clear me and start work on the 30th. One week away. Sometimes I can't imagine getting up and moving that early in the day and wonder if I can keep up the pace for the entire day. Food and I haven't had such a great relationship tonight. Tried taking my son to the movies and got less than 2 miles from home before breaking out in cold sweats. I think it was the carb countdown milk. It's waning now. My son is very upset though. I wish I could be a "real" mom to him one day. 6-28-04 the days seem to get better all the time. Decreased pain in that one small area of my upper right incision and able to finally sleep somewhat on my side. Still having a hard time getting to sleep though. Went to a Christening yesterday. Glad I took my own foods otherwise there would have been few things I could have eaten. Mainly the biggest thing there that I could eat was crab meat and some fruit. Also some nuts. I took my protein drinks and bars. All worked out well. I've done some straightening out of my bills today - in preparation for returning to work on Wed. Need to start thinking about my food plan for work also. I've always been a slave to the scale so that hasn't changed and I get a bit down when I see that I'm almost 3 weeks out and down 18# only. But I know everyone has their own rate, so I'm not letting it bother me yet. Definitely not enough to need new clothes yet - just the old ones won't be so tight on me. That's a good thing in it's own way. People won't ask to many questions that way. Protein choices and getting it in are getting better. They don't seem to stick in the back of my throat the way they were before. Still careful and chew chew chew. 7/1/04 Feeling like crap - went to work for the first day yesterday - they put me on 4 hr. days - I thought it would be simple but in reality it was tough. Today was quite another story. It was hell. My friend told me I looked like a zombie and she even thinks my speech was slurred. She probably thought I was drunk LOL. Called the doc. Spoke to his nurse. She encourages moving around more and increasing protein. Told doc about how I feel so lousy. If I don't get any better he advises me to head to the ER. I won't take chances. Still having a tough time getting food to go down comfortably. I chew and chew and chew, but unless it's real creamy it's tough. Going to bed extra early tonight because I just don't have any energy to do much. By the way - no weight change - still at -18. Taking all my meds and feeling a bit down. Watching closely for any signs of depression also. I'm really aware of all that's going on in me. I am my best advocate. 7/9/04 Well, I am 4 weeks out yesterday and although it hasn't been the worst of times, it definitely hasn't been the best of times either. The fatigue over the last week had gotten so bad that I went to my family doc to do bloodwork. It shows I am anemic and I consulted with Dr. Peters to make sure that the medication preferred by my pcp is the same as what he would do. It was. Now on iron pills - see the doc in a week for a re-check of the bloodwork. I have not lost one single pound in weeks. I am getting upset. I'm using a website to calculate my food consumption. I am getting in the protein lately but it seems that everything I eat is either high in fat or carbs which makes me think that's why I am not losing. I will probably call the dietician next week to see if she has any ideas. I'm also consulting my list of foods to eat given to me by my doc. I'm wondering how people actually get in all their protein with such a small amt. of carbs. Still working half days which is a help to my well being, yet I am so behind at work I get worried about how behind I can actually get before I run into problems. That's all for now. 7/20/04 - 6 weeks to the day post op. Down 25#. That is a thrill considering the last few weeks I haven't moved much in that dept. Maybe cleaning out my system last night helped with some of the weight loss. This iron supplement is not agreeing with me so now I'm taking colace - generic form - hope it works cuz these hemorroids are killing me. See the doc on Thurs. Will report more then. 7/22 - Saw doc. Things are well - keep going. 8/3/04 - 8 weeks out today. I've lost 30# since surgery and another 8 prior to surgery. OK - so I'm a slow loser - but I'm ok with that for now at least. What really thrilled me is that I've lost 30 inches!!! Having a hard time reaching 1000 cal. a day but seem to be able to just hit the 70 gm of proteins. 09/08/04 Well I'm 3 months out now. Can't believe it went so quick. When I look back at the first 10 days (pretty much pure hell) I can't believe I feel fairly normal. So, where am I? I think I can eat too much most times although I try to limit myself. This is the hardest thing to do. I have a very difficult time finding things to eat that are high in protein, yet not high in carbs and fat. This bothers me all the time. Cooked chicken doesn't go down well, but a chicken nugget does. Go figure. The dark meat of turkey does well. Hamburgs are terrible, but chili is ok. Pork is "iffy" as is tuna fish. Just depends on the day. I almost wish that I would dump really bad so that I can't eat certain bad foods, but the most I ever feel is a tummy ache with certain foods or overfull about 15 min. after I eat. Rarely, but it does happen that I feel like something is "stuck" - feels like I am having a heart attack but it passes within about 15 min. Probably didn't chew something well enough. By that time it's too late - the food is already in me. I am having a tough time lately with eating out of real hunger. Instead I tend to take a bite of something when I know I shouldn't. That's been my problem all my life and habits are hard to break but I know that if I don't do it now then the surgery will not do me any good. I feel as though I should be doing better than I am. I am down a total of 48# - 40 since surgery and 8 prior to that. Not too shabby, but again, think it should be more. I feel very good physically. I am able to walk that flight of steps at work without being short of breath - that was one of my first goals. To be under 200# was my second - and I'm there also. Hard to believe I'm now out of the category of being morbidly obese. My BMI is down from 45.4 to 36.6 - from morbidly obese to severly obese. Still way off course, but again, I'll take it. I didn't get here overnight, it won't come off overnight. I look in the mirror and see in my face that it is much thinner and although I still have a big belly and apron, at least I don't look 9 months pregnant any longer. Have a dr. appt. in 2 weeks to get bloodwork done. Hopefully my iron level will be back to normal again. Must be better cuz I feel good overall. That's it for now. Will try to update regularly. Funny, how as I get back to our "normal" life that I tend to come here less often. Maybe because I have more energy to "do" things rather than just sit at the computer at night. 9/21/04 A bit scared the last few days. I had bright red blood in my stool on Sunday. Called my surgeon who will do a colonoscopy on Friday. I'm scheduled to see him for a regular check up on Thursday anyway. I get to see his smiling face twice this week. I am scared about the blood. Naturally one thinks the worst - my aunt died of colon cancer in 1968. I am not panicking yet. Hopefully it's just hemmorhoids. Hard to tell if it was a one time thing or not because I haven't had a BM since then (not unusual). Don't like the whole idea of a colonoscopy to begin with - it seems so "probing" (yes, pun intended). Weight loss is minimal in the last few weeks - maybe 1-2 # max. That's discouraging. I'll write more when I get this over and done with. 11-8-04 Well - I've been quite lax when it comes to updating here. Guess my life is a bit busier now than it used to be. Today I am 5 months out. Life is so much better than it was 5 months ago today - and no pain as it was that day. I've lost a total of 57 pounds since surgery and another 8 prior to that so my total is now 65#. This month was my slowest when it comes to losing. All the other months I've lost 10 and this month was only 7 - not that I could have lost 57 pounds on any other diet in that time period, so don't think I'm complaining. I guess I really have to get out there and start exercising to firm up and lose more. 12/29/04 WOW! Seems like ages since I've been here. I don't seem to get on line much between work and 2 kids vying for computer use. I need my own laptop - actually I don't need one, but I really WANT one. I'll try to do an update on my 7 month anniversary which will be in about 10 days. For now though I must say that I've survived the "holidays" without gaining weight as I have always done in the past. In fact I continue to lose - slowly - but I do lose. My best part of the holidays was our company Christmas party. It was at a Hilton Hotel, and I had my hair done in an updo professionally. Never in my life have I ever gone to a hair dresser to have my hair done for an occassion. Even on my wedding day I set it in rollers myself. My friend from work gave me a brand new black long dress and I must say I looked good. I felt like a princess - never felt like a princess before either. It was wonderful. So now I am down a total of 76 pounds - 8 of that prior to surgery but the other 68 since June 8th. I haven't been eating as well as I should. I've found that I can eat some sugar without getting sick. This is NOT a good thing. However, I do limit myself because I get a nauseous feeling for about a half hour after eating it. Sometimes I wish it would be a worse feeling, so I am not tempted. As far as regular food goes, I usually eat 2 egg whites with cheese for breakfast. Lunch is usually a 1/2 of a roast beef or turkey sandwich on lite whole wheat bread. Some days, it's chili or a salad with some imitation crab meat. Dinner can be a toss up - but I am able to eat a meat, some vegetables and sometimes a piece of a potato. I drink a lot of tea and coffee throughout the morning - at least 20 oz. of water in the afternoon, and some water at night before a bed time cup of tea. Diet iced tea is a staple. I've basically given up on the protein drinks although there is one I like that I still drink now and then. I will have my bloodwork done again in the middle of January. My doc believes that if the bloodwork is good and I feel good, then try to live as normal a life as possible after the surgery. If the bloodwork is not good then I will have to adjust my eating patterns. I do feel good, and I must say that I look good! Can't say that I've ever felt this good about myself before. I know the future will hold plastic surgery for me in the abdominal area. I am down to a size 16 pants BUT can't seem to get beyond there because of all the extra skin at my waist. I don't even give serious thought about the ps for now because I know it will be at least another year and a half away. That's it for now. Will get back to you later with some better stats. 01/20/05 So I missed my 7 month update due to being out of power for 5 days with an ice storm in our whole area. What a trip. 11 of us staying at my sisters home - God bless her soul for having us all. We all did fine except my Beta fish "Slim". He died due to the cold water in his bowl and I kept forgetting to bring him with me when I made a trip during the day to my house. When I got back home I did take all my measurements and on the 10th of Jan. I was down a total of 78 pounds, 8 before surgery which means I really only lost 70 since surgery. I don't mean "ONLY" but I mean that from last month to this month I only lost one pound. My eating habits over the holidays weren't the best but I'm trying to get back on track. I do well at work, but on weekends it's tough to get in all my protein. Now that Girl Scout cookies are "in season" I've been putting one too many thin mints in my mouth. Weighed in yesterday and was down another pound. 79 total. The inches keep rolling off - I think I've now lost a total of 63 inches. I'm down to a size 14 and even a 12 in some pants. Looking good and feeling great. Funniest thing happened today at work. I had a friend trying to hook me up with a date. We met today in passing and later on she asked him about me. He said I was pretty but too THIN!!!!!!!!! I've never had anyone ever think I was too thin to date. Oh well - different strokes for different folks I guess. Anyway - that's all for now. 3/7/05 Wow - 9 months out and down a total of 88 pounds - 80 since surgery and 8 before. I feel so different about life in general and definitely about myself. My boss told me the other day what a difference she has seen even in the last 2 months. Then there's the food thing - I am able to eat different types of foods but still try to stick to the basics. I tried eating fast food fried fish the other day and even though I took off all the breading, it didn't matter, it made me so sick. I guess I won't be doing that again anytime soon. I am finding that I'm watching my foods better all day at work when it comes to a healthy breakfast and lunch but then I am craving for something crunchy in the mid-afternoon. I've tried sunflower seeds, and granola mix but both of them didn't sit well. Don't know what I will try next. I have to plan better. Dinners usually go good because I am cooking better at home although come dinner time I just can't eat alot. Night time makes me want my hot cup of tea but I want a snack to go along with it. Again, I'm always looking for something crunchy. I do much better with my weight when I skip that night time snack. Overall I am doing well. My food choices have got to get a little better because I can see how easily it would be for me to get back into eating junky food. I don't vomit, just get a nauseous feeling from bad foods so it's not enough to keep me from eating them. I need a little behavior modification before it gets out of hand. I never found a protein drink that I liked but maybe I can get back into drinking my Hood's Carb Countdown smoothies which I really do like and can't find at my local Walmart anymore. That's it for now. I'll be taking my measurements either tonight or tomorrow although I don't think they will change much from last month. The weight is coming off slower now so hopefully the weather will get better and I can get out and walk. Surgeon Info: William S. Peters (Peckville, PA) My first impression of Dr. Peters was that of a serious man about what he does. I was frightened of his blunt demeanor. That has not changed. I still know if I don't do what I am told, that he will tell me to go find a different surgeon. (I needed to quit smoking). He cares about his patients. He is no non-sense in his approach to telling you how things are going to be and what you need to do to succeed. He is blunt and tells you all the good, the bad and the ugly. He returns phone calls and answers emails. His office staff is very friendly and helpful. He states he will continue to do your aftercare for as long as you live. At the least, he requires you to come back to him for a year. He has a support group for his patients only. His aftercare program is structured mainly by diet and bloodwork initially with follow up based on bloodwork results and how the patient feels. When it comes down to it, I want a good surgeon who is competent in what he/she does. Although I like a good bedside manner and probably would not choose a physician that I did not like, in the long run, I want someone who knows what they are doing, rather than one who doesn't and is pleasant. 12-3-03 Each time I go to a support group meeting I feel more comfortable about my decision to use Dr. Peters. He continues to be supportive to all his patients. He is truly concerned about his patients. Insurer Info: BCBS Access Care II My doctor sent in my letter for pre-approval shortly after I saw him in his office. The ins. co. received his letter on 10-14 and denied the DS on 10-24. I am sending in my first letter of appeal on 10-28. Letter of appeal sent 11-4 - received by ins. co. next day. 11-21 they sent note to Dr. stating they wanted more clinical information within 5 days. As of 12-2 the medical review dept. still has not made a decision. I don't like dealing with this ins. They will not allow me to speak with the person in medical review handling my claim. I will keep on them until I get information. Even when they are already getting tired of hearing from me, which I suspect they are, as the last woman I spoke with appeared very upset by all my questions. The only response she would give me is that it was in review. 1-1-04 Sitting here at home wishing it wasn't NY day so that I could actually do something when it comes to working on getting approval. My appeal for the pre-determination has been denied also. It is now in the hands of my HR dept. at work. I want to talk with them to give them some other info that may be helpful to get approval. 4/30/04 Well, this is one site I don't want to have to come back to. I went through so much trying to get my HR dept. to approve the DS but it got to be so much that I think the things I was expected to do and the time that I could have waited would have been years, that I decided to go for the RNY which I knew would be covered. I know many people would be happy just to have that covered, but my doc and I thought the DS was the best procedure for me. I just can't wait forever. I need my health back now. So around the middle of the month I had my surgeon reapply for the RNY and was approved in just over a week. Surgery will be on June 8th.