Bamamommy
7/11/2005 I went to Dr. Adams consult today and they are all very nice and answered all my questions and concerns. Now I have to do some preliminary blood work and I did a psychiatric evaluation. They will send off my medical neccessity letter next week after the lab work returns. My current weight is 294.5. I am ready to have the surgery and start my new healthier life.
7/15/2005 Had bloodwork and Glucose Tolerance Test (hated it)
8/03/2005 My appt with Dietitian. I saw Jennifer Johnson at Decatur General Hospital. She was excellent. She is my age 26. She was very considerate and gave me great information. She talked over with me the diet and gave me a goal list.As soon as she sends the summary to the Dr's office they will get everything together to send for my insurance approval. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a quick approval.
08/16/05 My letter has been sent to the insurance company. The waiting now begins. I am trying to be patient but I am not good at that. I will let you know when I get a surgery date.
8/24/2005 Called BCBS they still do not have my paperwork in the system yet. ARRRGGGHHHH..... I am trying to be patient but it is so hard when you are sooooo ready to have this surgery and get on with your new and healthier life. Well I am going to wait one more week and call again. I hear that there is a 30-60-90 day wait depending on what contract you have. Crazy I know... talk later..
8/26/2005 Called BCBS they have my paperwork in their system!!!! Whoooopppeeee! Yeah I know I still have to wait on the actual approval but I am one step closer and that made my day! I am getting psyched up now! My doctor told me that my insurance since it is Federal BCBS probably will be approved within 30 days. I asked BCBS and they said the same thing. I amd ready! Talk again soon. I am ready for the weekend!!!!
08/31/2005 I got my letter from BCBS today and I am approved for Gastric Bypass Surgery. I am so happy, excited and all the above. Thanks to everyone for all their continued support. I love everyone on the AL Message Board.
09/01/2005 Well I am waiting on the Surgeon to call for the Pre OP Appt so I can get a surgery date. As of right now I am 5 days late on my period. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. I think it is stress from worrying about getting approved and Hurricane Katrina but I am praying that everything will work itself out in that department and I can get on with my surgery. Sorry for the TMI. Well enough babbling on for now. I need to get some sleep so I can watch my children tomorrow. They have been really hyper lately? They know mommy is happy and excited.
9/06/2005 It was stress I am not pregnant...yeah! I am still waiting on the doctor's office to call and make my pre op appt to get my surgery date. I will let you know.... Keep praying for me.
09/19/2005 Well the surgeon's nurse has finally called me. I have my pre-op appointment on Monday 09/26. They will give me my surgery date at that appointment so I am sooooo excited and a little anxious all at the same time. I will let everyone know ASAP. My husband and I found out last week that his grandmother has Lung Cancer. We do not yet know how advanced or anything else about it. We are just praying for God's guidance and comfort for the family. Thanks to all my peeps on the Bama Board for their prayers and continued support. I love you all as my family! Just to name a few here is a shout out to Teagan Angel, Randall, Elle, Staci, Traci, Happy Girl, Becky, Glenn, Mary, and I know I am probably missing several people but I love all of you guys. Thanks!
9/26/2005 Today is my Pre-Op Appt. I am so excited, nervous, anxious and many more emotions. My appt. was at 1pm and I finally got out of there at 3pm. I GOT A SURGERY DATE!!! I am so excited. I will be having surgery next Tuesday October 4, 2005 at 12 Noon at Decatur General Hospital. Please keep my family and my surgeon in your prayers. Thanks for all your support. I'm gonna be a big LOSER and I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! :) Oh and duh I almost forgot I lost a little weight I am down to 292.5!
09/29/2005 Well I have been cleaning my house like crazy today. I am trying to make it easy for my husband so he can concentrate on our children and my recovery. Of course there will still be dishes and laundry but who can get away from that anyway. I am ready for this surgery. I am so excited to be a healthier me for myself and my family. Well one more day of solid food for awhile. I have to start a full liquid diet on Saturday morning for pre surgery to shrink my liver so my surgeon can see my stomach easier. I think that will also be easier after surgery for me and my stomach. Well I am off for now to eat dinner. Thanks again to all who continue to support and pray for me and my family. I love you all so much.
TOP TEN LIST OF PERSONAL GOALS
1. Tie my shoes and breath at the same time. Met 02/2006
2. Cross my legs like normal people. Met 3/2006
3. Weigh less than my husband. Met 09/2006
4. Wear jeans and be able to breath. Met 2/2006
5. Play with my kids and not be tired. Met 10/2006
6. Wear high heel shoes.
7. Go on a cruise with my husband.
8. Ride a horse or at least be able to get on one again. Met 5/2006
9. Be at a healthy weight for me.
10. Have energy to burn.
10/03/2005 Well here I am tomorrow is my big day! I had to start my high protein liquid diet on Saturday and I did good until yesterday morning I woke up with a bad headache it was probably withdrawl from sugar or something. Anyway here I am Monday morning feeling better. Today I am still on the liquid diet. This afternoon I get to drink that wonderful Magnesium Citrate to clean me out. Then I get to have nothing else to eat or drink after 8pm. I am supposed to be at the Hospital at 10am in the morning. Please continue to pray for me, my family and the surgeon as we prepare for tomorrow. I am ready to be on the Losing side of life!
10/08/2005 Well I made it. I am 4 days post op. I was in surgery for about 1 1/2 hours and in recovery 3 hours (I had problems with nausea) I got to my room around 6:30pm and I woke up around 8:00pm. I went to the bathroom and then took my first walk around the floor at 8:30pm. I had severe gas pain more than anything. I walked more laps than I can count. It felt better to walk than to lay in the bed. I got to come home 2 days after my surgery. I am now on day 4 and I had a headache on and off. Now I am just really tired and trying to make sure that I get all my fluids in that I can have. I am not really hungry yet but when I smell my family eating I would not mind having some of it. But I am doing okay. I am ready to start the full liquid diet on Monday. I have still had lots of gas and gas pain and diahhrea. I should not expect anything else since the blew my abdomen up really big and since all I have had to eat and drink are clear liquids. Well I need to get off here and head back to the couch. I have been up walking about every hour and on the treadmill slowly walking for about 5-8 mintues a day so far. Keep me in your prayers. I can do it. Thanks to all of you again who have been praying for me!
10/10/2005 I will be 1 week Post Op tomorrow. I got weighed today at the doctor's office. I have lost 10 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited. I also get to go to the second phase of the recovery diet. I get to have Full liquids now. I am doing good and I am ready to do even better. Have a great week everyone!
10/13/2005 Hello again. The good news is I have lost 15 lbs since my surgery. The sort of bad news is. I am having a hard time with the diet part. I do better on clear liquid than full liquid. I have cried and mourned over food a couple of times but they say that is normal. Food is a drug in its own way. I am thankful for all of you that continue to keep me in your prayers. I know this is just part of the stomach healing process. I am praying that this will end soon. I know that I will be better in time. Thanks so much.
10/24/2005 Hello all. I have my check up appt today with Dr. Adams. I am doing okay exept for being extremely nauseous from the time I get up to close to lunch time. This is like being pregnant all over again. I know this will pass. My home scale says I am 267 so we will see what the Dr scale says today so I can compare. Thanks to all of you from church and the board and my family and friends that are praying for me. This is the hardest thing I have ever done. I did it to prolong my life and to feel better physically. I can honestly say I would only reccommend this surgery if you are totally committed and you want to do it for medical reasons. This surgery will change your life. I do not regret it but there are good days and not so good days. I will update later on my Dr. visit. Have a great week.
12/18/2005 Long time no update. I have been in and out of the hospital a total of 21 days since my surgery on 10/04/2005. I am doing much better. I am eating most things and drinking. I am down to 240 lbs. I have been through some trying times but with the help of my family, church, friends and Dr. Adams I am on my way to better health. Please keep me in your prayers. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
01/10/2006 Well I had a Happy New Year. My dear daughter Emily turned 4 on Dec. 27th and she had a Princess Party and rode horses at my parent's farm. She got lots of clothes, princess stuff and a Barbie 4 Wheeler. As for me I am doing great. I am getting some energy back. My weight is kind of at a stand still but I think my body is just trying to adjust to losing 50lbs and now being able to actually eat and drink. I go for my checkup with Dr. Adams on Friday. I think he will be happy that I am doing so well.
02/07/2006 Valentine's Day is almost here. You know what that means. Yeah, I have to buy my dear husband a birthday gift. Him and his twin sister will be 35 on Valentine's day. I am down to 235 and I am feeling wonderful. Except when I try something that does not like me. I am about to start Water Aerobics. I am ready. Well I am also getting ready for my 27th Bday which will be on Feb. 28 and them my son Caleb will be 3 yrs old on March 5. He is having a sports ball themed party. Have a great month! Keep me in your prayers. Thanks for all your support.
03/01/2006 Well another month has flown by! I turned 27 yesterday. I have never felt better. I am down to 226 lbs. I am in a size 18 jeans and loving it! I started water aerobics this week. It is so much fun. I cannot believe exercise is fun? Oh well as long as it is working. I got new pictures taken but I am waiting on a friend to email them to me so I can upload them to the webpage. My kids are doing good. Caleb will be 3yrs old on Sunday and Emily just turned 4 yrs old right after Christmas. They are full of energy and keep me moving. Ricky still has two semester of school before he gets his bachelor's degree. I am so proud of him. I love you all and thanks for praying for me and my family. Happy March!
04/16/2006 HAPPY EASTER!!! Well this week has been crazy but fun. I am watching my husband's grandmother during the day and watching my children and cleaning my mother in law's house while I am over watching his grandmother. It is hectic but it is really helping me grow as a mother and be more organized with my time. In other news, I had my 6 month post op check on Thursday. Drum roll please I am down 79 lbs!!!! Can you believe it???? I also wore a size 16 Easter dress today. Last year my Easter dress was a size 26. I am so thankful to my family and friends and to God for this wild journey. Please pray for my husband's family and my family as his grandmother is on Hospice. She has Lung Cancer. She is such a trooper. I admire her spirit so much.
05/31/2006 We had a great Memorial Day weekend. I went with our Jr High Youth group to Chickawaw State Park. We had a great time. I am down to 200 lbs. I am almost in Onerderland!!!!! I have lost 94 lbs since surgery!!!! I am so excited. I am in size 16 jeans.
07/08/2006 Long time no update? Why you ask??? Because I am so busy with all my energy and my family. We went on Vacation to San Antonio Texas. We had a great time. We went to a local water park for July 4th with my husband's family. We had a good time there too. I rode so many rides that I would not have rode last year or any year for that matter due to my weight. I am down to 194 lbs!!! I am so excited and I cannot wait. I only have 15 more lbs to weigh less than my husband! The last time I weighed 194 I was in the 6th grade. Well I need to go and have some more fun. Have a great day!
08/23/2006 I am down to 189! I am 14 lbs away from my original goal! I am so excited. I am doing wonderful. I start ballet on Tuesday. I watch my 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 yr old son and daughter and my almost 5 yr old nephew during the week and that is draining enough. I teach the Jr High Youth on Wednesday night at church. I am also being my almost 15 yr old sisters adult supervision for group dates, etc. It has been crazy around here. All I want to do is sleep when the day is over. Well I have went from sz 26 to sz 14! Praise God. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Have a great week!
10/04/2006 Happy 1 Year WLS Anniversary to ME!!! I cannot believe that it has been 1 yr since I had Gastric Bypass Surgery. It has changed my life, but for the better. I have lost 115 lbs so far! I am doing great! I am taking adult Ballet once a week and I love it and hate it because it is challenging. I weigh less than my husband and I love that! I hope that everyone is well. Thanks for all the prayers. My next goal is to lost about 20 more lbs and have all this excess skin taken off. I am supposed to wait until 18 months out so I will update again soon. Until then Happy Fall!
