Alottolose

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Well, it is hard to believe that I am 3 months out!! Feels like yesterday! I stalled for about 2-3 weeks, but, the weight seems to be moving again! Whew!!   Funny how we get freaked out when the weight is not moving! I am guessing it has a lot to do with our past failures, and since I have had so many of those-no doubt I freak when the scale doesn't move!!
I believe that my recorded weight for the day was 223.  Down 62.5 pounds since starting the process, and down 82 pounds from my highest weight!! Not too shabby!  

I feel great! I have been exercising-water aerobics, zumba, and slogging.  Yep-slogging. Slow-Jog-Walking!! I slogged my first 5K recently, and had a blast! I have already signed up for #2, in November!!   Last night, hubby and kids participated in a moonlight mile walk, as a family!! Crazy different that what we used to do-sit on the sofa all night watching tv!!

I do have to admit, I had my first real sugar dessert a couple days ago. I made it to take to a get together-my first mistake! Then I doubted what I made, and made cupcakes, too! So there I was with 2 desserts! Took them to the gathering, and had some left over! I ate some, and it didn't bother me. I felt guilty, and swore that I wouldn't eat anymore. Well, the next day there they were on the counter...I ignored them, and set out on my day. But, when I returned from lunch-a steak, shrimp and broccoli-I picked through the desserts, again! UGH!! I got sooooooooooooo sick!  Felt like I was having a heart attack, and my stomach hurt! I thought I was going to throw up, and my head was killing me!! So, I guess I can dump! I have been telling everyone that I don't dump-guess I hadn't tested the waters quite so heartily! Happy to know that I do dump, cause I don't want to feel that way again!! Seriously!!!! 

 

I had my 1 month post-op visit this past Friday. I was down 26 pounds since surgery, and almost 50 pounds since my first blog entry in March!!  I feel pretty good, and have not had any complications.(knock on wood)  They drew blood for my first labs-who knew they needed so much??!! 10 vials!! Hoping to get some results by Friday.

I started eating fish, as my diet allows, on Saturday.  I went to the Cracker Barrel, where I got the haddock dinner with green beans. It had a cornmeal/flour dusting on it, and was grilled. I picked off the "dusting", and ate about a 1/4 of the fish, and a few green beans. It was very good, and sooooo different than when I used to go into the Cracker Barrel, and eat everything on my plate and a salad, biscuits with jelly and anything else I could get my hands on!! I did bring home the leftovers, and have eaten about a 1/4 more of the fish! LOL! I am guessing the dogs will be eating the rest of the fish...I am ready to grill my own!! 

I have been kind of scared to try new foods as they come up on my diet...but, after having the fish, I feel a little more daring! Not so daring that I want to mess up, tho! My husband and kids brought home a funnel cake for me, last night, from the county fair.  I could see the excitement in my little ones eyes, but, said you know, I would be so much happier if you all ate it for me!! They were thrilled, and with it split 3 ways, it didn't last long!   

I haven't been hungry, until recently. I am not sure whether it is head hunger, or real hunger. Probably a combination of both. I recently dropped one of my shakes from my diet, as I am eating enough protein to cover at least one of my shakes. Besides, have I told you how gross the shakes are to me??!  I am wondering, tho, if my hunger is from the absence of the 3rd shake?  I may take a day or two and test the waters, and add the shake back in...see how I feel.  

I still struggle getting everything in. The day I went to the doctor, I was gone all day...unprepared, and simply was unable to catch up with all my pills, water, shakes and food! It was a sucky day for me-as I am pretty good at getting in all my water, vitamins, and protein!! Was a little dizzy and weary that evening.  Lesson learned to be more prepared!! 

All in all, I think I had a good first month! My personal goal was to lose 25 pounds, and I exceded that by one pound!!  Excited to see what this next month brings, and excited to up my exercise!! 

So, today at church, the people noticed that I had lost weight! I even had one lady call me a movie star-LOL!! Soooo not a movie star!!! Hee hee!! But, it felt good to finally be noticed! I have been dieting and making food changes since March when I thought I would be having surgery in May! I was losing weight then...just not enough for others to see!

My hubby came home from the hospital, and his sleeve surgery, yesterday. He is doing well, but, he says he is hungry. I think it must be head hunger-and visual wanting of foods that look good!!  I have not been hungry...which thrills me to death! I have no idea if this is good, or not...normal, or not. But, I will certainly not complain!  

I am trying to eat more-like I was eating soup once a day, and the rest was just protein shakes. Am I suppose to be eating once, twice or three times a day?! I guess I need to talk with my nut!! Besides,  I sort of stink at eating my shakes...early on I drank the bullet proteins-which appear to be quite the punch when it comes to protein. But, I just can't stand the taste!! Could they be any sweeter?  Anyways...as I have written before-I am sold on on only one shake-Nectar's chocolate truffle. I like it with skim milk, or water.  I  have been struggling to get 3 of them in-plus all the water! I do my best, and some days do great! I am hoping to get approval for exercise soon, so I can get back to my couch to 5k training for a 5k in September! Don't get me wrong-I have been walking, but, just not enough! Oh, and my pool is screaming my name!!! 

So, overall I feel so much better than the first week after surgery...it really has gotten better! My husband has the same "what did i do to myself" look that I had the first week...but, the weight has just been dropping off us both.  It was fun seeing my surgeon and the same nurses that treated me in the hospital, treating him. They all said I was doing great, and looked good!  One morning I was getting dressed to go see my husband in the hospital, and I had to dig out some "too small" capris that I had put back! It was a great feeling, as they slipped right on, and easily buttoned without me tucking in all my extra puff! I floated in on a cloud that day! I just hope that me and my pouch can be the best of friends!!

Today, I woke up and my incisions were madly itching!! I thought I would pass out as I gently rubbed each and every one of them!! The bariatric nurse told me that I must be having a reaction to the surgical tape used on them! UGH!! I just got back from picking up some anti-itch cream. 

I had my first doctor's appt today at 9:00am.  I lost 12 pounds my first week!!  I was such a good girl-didn't weigh myself all week!! I followed all the rules, and somehow managed to get down my 70 grams of protein every day!

I will admit...right after leaving the hospital, it was a breeze-for 2 days.(Probably the comfort from my narcotics) I had some of the little protein bullets and a few shakes. Day 6 got me, though. I woke up a new person...everything tasted NASTY!! Protein, shmoteen! YUCK! So, here is where all my pre ordered samples came in! I had one protein that I ate at noon, and the first thing I tasted the next morning was the nasty smelling protein flavor-a bit like baby spit up!! I will admit...I don't like the majority of them, but, I only need one! So, I am currently drinking Nectar's Chocolate Truffle! Tastes a bit like watered down chocolate milk-mmmmm.... I can handle this! 

I have a touch of diarrhea-totally normal and expected. I was just happy that at Day 4 I was able to go! I was panicked that I would be constipated!! I would much rather have diarrhea than constipation, any day!!   Anyway, I can look forward to the constipation once I add in solid food, according to my nurse.

I guess I can say that I am doing good... I just want to write all this down, so that I can remember how I felt!!  It is a one day at a time process-something that I am quickly learning! Every day is a new day, and I have to start over each day! I can't imagine being a month out, 6 months out, or even a year out! I have no idea where my weight will be in a month, 6 months, or a year out! I am excited, and scared! I look forward to this journey, and I am headed to my place on the loser's bench! Yay, me!  

If you are reading this, may your journey be amazing and awesome! Let's get to "onederland" and beyond!  

~Sabra

 and feeling so/so. I am guessing if I hadn't had to have a band removed, I would have been bouncing off the walls feeling great!

Most my soreness comes from the incision that they removed the band from. My incisions are itchy, which I assume means they are healing. I don't scratch them-just gently rub over them.

I was happy they removed the OnQ pump and drain, as they were so bulky!  Those incisions look pretty good. I go this Friday for my first check up, so I will get confirmation on that.

I have no trouble getting in my protein-I have the little bullets, and shakes that I have been weeding through. I am picky about shake flavors, and usually go with the basic flavors-chocolate, vanilla bean torte, and the Nectar's cappuccino. I am not big on fruity flavored shakes!

I still feel quite puffy-hoping that I can get some of this off before Friday, as I don't really think I have lost any weight. It would make a girl feel good if I had lost a few pounds...   Still working out the anesthesia...started some gas x strips. 
I walked, walked, walked in the hospital, and started a walking schedule up and down my driveway(with a slight incline) about 15 times a day after  I got home.  Called the nurse cause my calve was hurting, and I was worried about a blood clot. She said that I was walking far to much for someone who hadn't really been walking that much before surgery. I am keeping an eye on it, and will call her again tomorrow if it doesn't calm down.

I have discovered that cold beverages just don't do it for me anymore...prefer room temperatures...funny considering I used to crave ice! 

Oh, well, just wanted to post a little update, so I can remember what I was doing in the beginning, and how I was feeling! 

Hope anyone who reads or sees it is doing well!

 So, we shall try this again!  I started my weight loss vitamins, have been taking in as much protein, and started a good walking/exercise routine. (Thanks for the suggestions, Pumpkin)  I am down over 10 pounds, but, would like to be down 20 by the time of my surgery on the 23rd. 

The funny thing is, I feel so-so about the whole thing. I was excited when I started the whole process in January...totally thinking I would have had the surgery in March, and on my way to a healthy skinny by summer.  Nope.  Then, I got a date for May 23rd, and was super excited. Then I made the decision the Friday before my Monday surgery  to wait for approval from my insurance,  that saw the need for my surgery.(This is a good thing!) So, now, I am starting the 2 week count down for a second time. Life is BUSY and full of things to stuff my days prior to surgery, so, I am hoping it will fly by! 

So, today, I got another letter from my insurance company telling me that '"they reviewed my request to cover gastric restrictive procedure, and based on the info submitted and my health benefit plan, they determined that the health care service is eligible for coverage"'!!  

Of course I laughed when I got the letter, because as you can read in my earlier blog posts, they already told me that it was covered, and then they denied me coverage! Crazy, crazy insurance!! I gave it to my husband, who took it to the bariatric center and handed it to their insurance coordinator, who called our insurance company.  They told her that I was approved for band removal, and gastric bypass, and actually gave her a reference number!!!! I was SHOCKED!  Still am, actually!! I am kind of in a daze! It is unbelievable!!  I am scared to be excited, as I fear they will swoop in and take it all away, but, want to be excited an let myself feel excited! 

I will call the bariatric center tomorrow, and discuss a date for surgery! I think it will be on June 23, only 4 days after my 42nd birthday, and one month after my original surgery date! 

But, after a late hour call with my Bariatric Center on Friday night, and much debate,  I decided to cancel my surgery!  

Why, you ask? Well, I recently received a letter from my insurance company saying that after reviewing my health benefit plan, that I was eligible for bariatric surgery! Our bariatric center's insurance office told us we did not have coverage according to our plan, and I was fully prepared(stealing from our retirement account) to be a self pay patient. Our bariatric center submitted my surgery anyway, and I was denied.

I was denied on the basis that they had not submitted a 5 year medical/weight history, and a 6 month medically supervised diet. Luckily, I started this process with the bariatric center in January, and have been "dieting" with them since! I am hoping that if I submit those two things, they will grant my WLS appeal!

I am now gathering all that info for my bariatric center to submit to my insurance, in hopes that they will cover my surgery after all is resubmitted! 

I am hoping to be on schedule for WLS around the first week of July, after my 6 months of medically supervised diet is complete! 

When people say this is a crazy journey, it certainly is! LOL! Sure hope I am not wasting a month of weight loss...but, hey, it is worth the $, and better retirement, if I am covered! 

Ok, so I know it is still a week away, but, I realize it will be here before I know it! I have been trying to get everything in order, for my kids, husband, and wonderful father, who will be staying with my 4, 5, 6 & 13 year old kids!   I won't lie, I worry more about him(my dad)  that I do myself-especially right now! LOL!

I have ran into so many silly barriers trying to get to this point! Not only did my car's transmission go out on my way to my surgical consultation with my surgeon to set my surgery date, but, i have been through 3 sets of baby sitters(family members who previously committed, but, changed plans)  to care for my kids while I am in surgery/hospital!! 

So, late last week, I got a letter in the mail from my insurance stating that they had reviewed my request to cover bariatric surgery, and based on the info submitted and my health benefits plan, that it has been determined that the health care service is eligible for coverage. We have actually almost prepaid for all of my surgery, as we were originally told by my bariatric surgeon's insurance handler that we did not have weight loss coverage.  After further investigation, my bariatric center told me that my insurance is willing to pay to have my band removed, but, that my RNY  coverage is under review! Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled to think they would be willing to pay for my surgery, and I a still hoping and praying that it can work out! But, now I am wondering what they are going to require of me if they do commit to payment! Yikes!! Exciting, and scary at the same time!!! 

Well, I am hoping that they can make a quick decision-as Monday is quickly approaching, and I feel a little bit in limbo!  

Hoping and praying that they approve the surgery, and we can put back our retirement money back into our 401k!

I am a 41 year old female who weighs 294 pounds. There, I said it. Not too proud of it, but, none the less, it is me.
I have been overweight my whole life-teased from 1st grade on through high school. I have been on every diet available to mankind-lost and gained enough weight to have several me's!  

In November of 2006, I got a lap-band.  I lost 35-40 pounds in about 4 months, and then it stopped.  I can't say that I blame the band completely, and actually have met someone who lost over 100 pounds with the band!!  For me, the band was a hard adjustment...the fills were ok, but, I never did find the sweet spot. I could either eat anything I wanted, or couldn't eat anything!! It was miserable-and I began to find comfort in soft foods, especially ice cream.  I eventually developed reflux...Oh, My!!  A couple months working on the right meds to help with that, and then the gallbladder had to go! It was a crazy year...not the funnest for me. 

I was able to keep the weight off for awhile, but, as it started to creep up, I went to the Bariatric surgeon to get a fill, only to find out that my insurance had dropped its weigh-loss surgery coverage, and that I would have to pay three hundred dollars per visit. 

So, here it has been almost 4 1/2 years, and that band is just sitting in there, gathering dust.   I am almost at my highest weight before the lap-band, and my body has began to show wear and tear due to my obesity.

I am tired, depressed and sad.  I am done with the aching back & hips, breathlessness, heartburn, and overall weariness!
I want to live again! I have 4 children, and a wonderfully supportive husband. I have chosen to get up and live, not sit and wait for life to come to me!!

So, in January, I went to a WLS seminar to start my revision journey to Gastric-bypass. I am scared and excited. I can't imagine what my life will be like afterward, but, am inspired by all the journeys I have been tracking over the last few months!
So, here is the story of me-hoping to have awesome results, like so many of you!
Sabra