Carl B.
12/04/04
My name is Carl Barbier. I am married to a wonderful lady in which we have three beautiful children and two dogs. We are a close knit, old time, family that holds family values and enjoys spending quality time together. We all are devoted to serving God and trust Him in all that we do in life.
I have been trying to get approved for WLS since 06/04, and still fighting the INS. I have been denied due to not having enough detailed documentation from the physician of my nutrition and exercise program. I am currently in my second level appeal, waiting for Dr. O. to speak to the medical director in person. I am hearing two different stories of coverage for Bariatric surgery for 2005 from my INS and my corporate benefits representative. Once all this is worked out, I know that a better life is on the other side.
"Rocky and Buster"
12/7/04
Heard from human resources who spoke directly to Aetna Insurance Supervisor who is over corporate benefits. Nothing in the policy will be changing next year which would effect me getting approved for WLS. YESSSSS....
12/09/04
Today I met with Dr. O'Connell and the staff at the Renew weight loss clinic. I have two more visits then we should be able to get approval from Aetna to schedule surgery, as per the multidisciplinary program criteria in Aetna's policy(?). My wife is also going to get the surgery done as soon as she can get a break from nursing school, maybe for Easter. Our next appointment is scheduled in January. I am so excited that she has decided to make this journey along with me.
2005
03/10/05
I went for my last visit to complete my 90 day program regiment which was required by my insurance company. Now I wait again for approval. The Doctors office and staff feel confident that it should be approved speedily without any questions. My wife has finished her 6 months nutrition and exercise program and we are waiting to hear any day if she gets approved.
04/15/05
This is my before picture taken at easter 2005, boiling crawfish. One month before weight loss surgery.
05/06/05
**I HAVE A DATE!!!** I am sceduled for May 16th. I go this week for my Pre-Op Training and testing day on may 9th. It's been almost one year since I began trying to get approved for WLS, and it's hard to believe that I will finaly begin my journey to the other side. I am so looking forward to many, many things especialy involving enjoying the great outdoors with my wife and three kids. My wife was denied on her 6 month nutrition and exercise program due to lack of sufficient documentation, but has begun her 90 day program which will satisfy the criteria of our insurance.
05/21/05
It is so great to be home and know that I am at the beginning of a wonderful healthier life. My stay at the hospital went well, no complications, not too much pain, wonderful care from the hospital staff, and I am now officially on "The Losing Side"...I am 5 days post op, 302 pounds, and can say that most pains from the surgery are gone, and that I have not been hungry at all. I know I have to take it easy for the next few weeks and am looking forward to getting caught up on as much rest as I can.
6/21/05
My journey has been much easier than I had imagined. I'm sure it is due to having a wife that is a nurse who watches me like a mother hawk, and all the prayers that have been said for my success in this. I am currently at 273lbs for a loss of 41 total lbs so far. I find that I have not been hungry at all, and have only had the munchies, or what I call fought the food demons, a couple of rainy boring day's. I've been filling my time with getting exercise by walking or riding my bike, along with chasing my boys all over the country side. Today is my first day back at work and I hope to get back into the routine of things quickly. I am already seeing the benifits of loosing when I sit in movie theater seats, walking, climbing, and tieing my shoes, and I'm told it will get even better...Until next time, God Bless!!!
7/25/05
Life is Good!!! I am down to 253lbs which is a loss of 61lbs since the surgery. I have not had much problems tolerating any specific type of food, but I do need to work on eating slower and chewing the food longer. My two boy's and I have took up a new pastime/hobby. We have begun to exercise together, bike ride and jogging. It is great quality time that we enjoy together and great exercise at the same time. The combination of exercise with eating right really makes that pounds come off more efficient, "Imagine That!" We are still waiting for my wife to get approved for her surgery, which should happen next month now that she has completed the criteria specified by Aetna.
10/9/05
Just wanted to update on what has went on during the past few months. I have been doing great with my weight loss and have just passed my goal of losing 100 lbs. I began at 325 last year, 314 at the time of surgery, and now I am weighing an unbelievable 210 lbs. YEAAAAAA!!!! It is wonderful to fit in normal clothes, chairs, booths at restaurants, seats in theaters and on airplanes, tie my shoes, play hard outside with the kids, and just enjoy life. I have been exercising a whole lot this past summer, running, and bike riding. I try to run one day then ride bike the next. I never would have dreamed that this miraculous surgery would have worked so well and brought so much benefit to my life. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is tired of trying every diet under the sun and has multiple health complications that come from being morbidly obese.
I haven't seen or heard from my doctor or the Renew staff since before the two major hurricanes devastated New Orleans. I hope and pray that all the Renew Staff and their families are accounted for, and beginning to get their world back into order. If anyone knows how to contact or has spoken to Dr. O’Connell or his staff please e-mail me so that I can get back in touch with them.
My wife was scheduled for her last visit with Dr. O'Connell on the day of the first hurricane. This would have completed the criteria of our insurance to qualify her for surgery. We have heard that the Methodist Hospital in New Orleans has water damage from the storms and may not re-open soon due to lower population in the city. I guess we will wait a few more weeks before deciding to go through some one else for her surgery.... Until next time, God bless!
12/12/05
It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmass..... Wow already.... It's already been seven months since I had my surgery. I could only wish everyone would have as great of experience as I've been blessed with through this journey. I've continued following my diet of low sugar, low fat, high protien, and have been able to excersise at least 3 to four times a week. The pounds are still comming off. I am now at a comfortable weight of 190lbs and am so much more energetic. A few friends have recently given me some of their not so old looking clothes, and I can not believe that I could actually fit into them. Thats not the size I am yet when I look into the mirror, I see it in pictures, but not in the mirror. I think my mirror is broken!!!
Me and my kids have been enjoying going on bike rides and really taking advantage of the quality time together. Yesterday we went out on the river road then back through the city, 13.5 mile ride, and it was great. I noticed yesterday that my two country boy's still need a little more training on how to ride in the city, (like not in front of cars), but in the country they do fine. My daughter does great, just needs to learn to use BOTH brakes when going down really steep hills in the country, what a story...
We will be speaking with doctors and insurance today to try to get my wife approved for the surgery before Christmass. It will be a quick approval and some paper pushing if we gaet it all done before Christmass, but this is the only window of opportunity we will have for a while, with my wife in nursing school.
I wish all of you a merry Christmass, and a wonderful blessed and joyfull new year filled with the peace that comes from a relationship with God and radiates from the inside out of us.....Be Blessed
12/18/2005
MY WIFE IS APPROVED AND SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY WITH DR. ANDREW HARGRODER IN BATON ROUGE AT VISTA HOSPITAL ON 12/19/05...YEA!!!!!!!!!!! INSURANCE APPROVED IN 24 HOURS AND DR. HARGRODER GOT HER SCHEDULED IN FOR 12/19...BEFORE CHRISTMAS...YEA!!!! WOW!!!
2006
01/16/06
Wow! What a great start to a wonderful new year!!! My wife is four weeks out and doing wonderful. She had a minor complication with an ulcer on her orifice in which it was hard for her to eat or drink anything without pain and getting sick. Once Dr. Hargroder did a scope and found out what it was causing the problem and gave Janae some medicine, she is now gaining ground on loosing pounds again... She is following her eating plan and doing wonderful, I'm proud of her.
As for me, I'm down to 178Lbs. and not sure how much more I am going to loose. Everyone that new me before WLS says that I have lost enough if not too much. The people that never saw me before do not believe that I was ever big, imagine that. I feel as though as long as my muscle mass is increasing and I am feeling great, I don't mind at all looking a little too thin, infact I am enjoying every minute of it.
I think I have a new found love in biking. It is great for exercise, spending time with the family on cool trails and outings, praying and meditating, and getting in some me time, which everyone needs from time to time. I mostly ride on the streets and am looking into getting a road bike, but for now I have a nice Schwinn MTB with slicks which gets me where I want to go, just not as fast...
02/21/06
Just thought I would give a quick update on all that's going on. I haven't lost any more weight or gained any weight, I seemed to have leveled out around 180 pounds. Even when I cut my calorie intake and double up on my exercise routines I have not seen any decrease in weight. I am seeing more muscle definition, which is a good thing. I'll trade that for weight loss at this point. I still battle head hunger late at night, which I find popcorn with extra salt helps out.
My wonderful wife Janae is doing good as well. She is nine weeks out and has lost an incredible 50 pounds...YEA!!! Her journey had a little rough start with the ulcer and now a mild case of vertigo, which has to GO in Jesus name!!! We believe and see that it is not as bad as what it was and it will pass with time. Amidst all of that she is in good spirits and dealing with the new lifestyle much better now that she is feeling healthier and seeing the results.
07/23/06
Janae is doing great, 2 more pounds to the 100lb loser club....
06/02/07
Uploaded a picture of me and Janae into my photo's, she is doing great. She lost a total of 130 pounds and seems to have lined out around 135 pounds. We were at mom’s fixing to go watch the boy's play baseball. We are continuing to make wise decisions in our diet, and portion size seems to be the key.
06-25-08
WOW! Over 1 year has passed since my last posted update. Janae and I are still doing fine, the weight loss has lined out, and both of us are leading healthy normal lives. Janae is holding at 135 pounds and I have been holding now at 195 pounds but a low % body fat. We continue to help each other by encouraging wise decisions on our choice of food, not always the best choices, but everything in moderation. Each of us has kept the weight off and enjoy the decision we have made. I have started a new job and do not have as much time for biking and jogging as I did in my previous job, but look forward to excersise at least three times a week. I wish all the best of God's blessings to everyone who has had or is thinking of having this surgery just as we have been blessed. Until next time...
