Nancy W.
the original profile
Nov 19, 2009
/4/02 - Visit w/PCP, who was excited about me wanting to have the surgery! Has had other patients be sucessful. Has put the process to get me to the surgeon into high gear!
9/16/02 - Have 1st of tests to be done prior to meeting surgeon. Today is the Pulmonary Function test, and on the 19th is the abdominal/gallbladder ultrasound.
9/19/02 - Ultrasound went well, after I got there - I took my regular route to work and realized I had passed the exit for the hospital out of habit! No stones showed in the gallbladder. Now I wait to get in to see the Duke group!
9/25/02 - I am really lucky, I think. One of my co-workers told me that he would walk with me at work after surgery, because he wants me to be successful-that's so sweet! Several people in my division have had WLS, and it is good to have them available to keep me up while I get an appointment with the surgeon. Support is very important! My best friend is teasing me about being the 'man magnet' when we go out after I have the surgery. I think I may go to a psychologist to start working out the weirdness of possible thinness!
December, 2002 - Found out that the Dr's office lost the application faxed/received by them on September 11, 2002 at 451 pm. Need to resend info, because the secretary told me 'oh we moved and must have lost it.' I have complained to Duke University Medical Center about the lost application containing personal information that I do not want floating around unguarded.
1/10/03 - Hand delivered application and copy of fax from original submission to the clueless secretary. Pregnancy has emptied her brain of what little intelligence she may have possessed.
1/29/03-Have appointment for orientation(?) on March 13. Hope my best friend will be able to go with me to that, to help me retain information! I've mellowed out about the office staff, but it is an irksome matter to deal with still . . .
2/11/03 - I have a clinic appointment on February 26! YeeHaaa!!
2/27/03 - Much better than I expected! The staff at the registration desk for the complex are excellent. Ms Shambley made the appointments for remaining tests while I was with Dr. Applegate the program psychologist. Ms Blackwood the FNP is so very good. I received a good exam without a big wait, she covered many things I had questions about before i could ask!. Looks like the 1st part of June will be the time of surgery. Dr. Applegate is pretty cool - her questions were interesting in their structure and the different ways that asked for the same information (for consistency in answers). I'm a happy girl!
3/14/03 - went to Dr. Grant's info session-for people just getting into looking at surgery to those who have had a clinic visit (like me). He is so cool! Didn't dumb down the scientific information, gave info on the papers he quoted, just very good presentation. My support person and I especially liked being in a room with that many large people! And I didn't feel like the biggest one there!
5/15/03 - Had to have new bloodwork - HbA1C was too high, so I have been trying to be as hardcore as possible. PCP helping with changes of insulin dosings. Now to wait for the results. . .
7/9/03 - The drs have finished their stuff, now waiting for the insurance to clear. Have a tentative date of AUGUST 14!!!
7/15/03 - I HAVE A DATE!!! AUGUST 12!!! Thank you God! 4 weeks from today I make the move!
8/1/03 - Had the surgeons' consult today, w/Drs. Grant and Pryor, plus a meeting with Dr Applegate the clinical psychologist who runs the behavior modification and support groups for the practice. The nice thing is you meet the people going through at the same basic time as you are, so you have someone who is at the same healing/refeeding point! After a consult with Dr. Grant in the exam room, where he examined my history, asked a few questions and answered them as well, went to Durham Regional Medical Center ne: Durham County Hospital, where the surgery takes place. DRMC is a part of the Duke Health System - Duke took over the management of DRMC and Lincoln Community Health Center in Durham in an agreement with the City/County of Durham several years ago. I like this set up, since DRMC is a very good facility, without the size of Duke North (DUMC's primary hospital). Parking is easy, the employees are very nice and helpful. I worked here as a temp 15 years ago, and left only because I went to work at Duke!
One thing was interesting - some of my partners in surgery were told to show up at 8:30, I was told to come at 8:45 in the am! Oh Well, WhatEVER!
In our meeting with Dr. Pryor, we went through the consent form, HIPAA act information on privacy, and asked questions. She presented morbidity/mortality information which, while sobering, is not statistically significant (unless you had one of the few bad outcomes!). Dr. McMahon is on vacation, so we don't have him in the surgery loop. I want to get some still photos from the surgery, and I am disappointed that we can't get a cd-rom or dvd burned from the video output. It would be nice to have that as a part of the surgery experience, since I won't be able to watch...
Dr. Applegate handed out our handbooks for the support group and had us introduce ourselves. We then had a discussion of our preop fears, while she studied the group dynamic and helped us prepare mentally for the surgery.
Bring on the bowel prep and let's get cutting!!!
9/2/03 - Back To Work! Met my father in Atlanta, and switched cars and returned Mama last Thursday/Friday. The drive back was warm, with no AC in my car, so I fought hard to keep hydrated.
But today at work was good. I took my smoothie with me, and ate on it all day, since I froze it the night before. I go back for followup visit, my first, on the 8th. I've lost ~28 lbs since August 12th (3 weeks today), so it is good. This is the best thing I have done for myself in a long while!
10/10/03 - I've lost a bunch more weight, ~50 lbs, and I feel so good. I've been walking every day, and I try to do some toning work when I'm home and watching tv. The cats think I'm a little strange not to want to sit down and love them! The support here at work is awesome. Everyone is commenting on my weight loss, and asking about the surgery. My biggest problem has been learning the 'full' point. I've had a bit of reflux from that, but that's my own fault. I have not done any beef or pork so far, but I can eat Mexican, Chinese and Japanese foods. Had 4 pieces of California roll and the rice didn't cause a problem! Of course, that filled me up. To keep from the boredom/habit eating that I used to do, I have been crocheting snowflakes and working on gourdcraft. Just learned how to make a shekere', and that requires both hands! very helpful. . .
11/25/03: Went shopping last Friday night, after a Thursday checkup at the Surgeon's. I have lost 52 lbs per their scales and have dropped almost 10 points in BMI! Of course, I started off at a higher weight since I tried to lose before going to the clinic. . .Bought a pair of size 24 jeans, last time that happened was in 93 or 94, so it was exciting!
12/5/03 - the new jeans are getting baggy! And, my HbA1c is down to 6.7, from a high pre-surgery of 9.4. It is all good
3/7/05 - haven't updated in a while! Down ~150 lbs, in 16w or 18/20 misses! it is so awesome. BMI is down in the low 30s, and my health is excellent. I actually stopped by my PCP to show off, since I haven't had to go see her for months. I'm changing careers - to becomea chef - and am in the process of moving back to south louisiana to be nearer the aging parents. But it is all good! Especially seeing the scales around the 200 mark from 353!
6/13/05 - size is around 16-18 still - have apron that interferes with clothes selection, but have moved into 'average' fit bras, which is nice! I'm still losing, just not so fast - but did drop a size in 5 weeks, so that's not bad. Am on my feet at work 8 hrs/day (doing retail in a department store) and the standing isn't an issue. Last unofficial weight was 194/
Photos
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9/16/02 - Have 1st of tests to be done prior to meeting surgeon. Today is the Pulmonary Function test, and on the 19th is the abdominal/gallbladder ultrasound.
9/19/02 - Ultrasound went well, after I got there - I took my regular route to work and realized I had passed the exit for the hospital out of habit! No stones showed in the gallbladder. Now I wait to get in to see the Duke group!
9/25/02 - I am really lucky, I think. One of my co-workers told me that he would walk with me at work after surgery, because he wants me to be successful-that's so sweet! Several people in my division have had WLS, and it is good to have them available to keep me up while I get an appointment with the surgeon. Support is very important! My best friend is teasing me about being the 'man magnet' when we go out after I have the surgery. I think I may go to a psychologist to start working out the weirdness of possible thinness!
December, 2002 - Found out that the Dr's office lost the application faxed/received by them on September 11, 2002 at 451 pm. Need to resend info, because the secretary told me 'oh we moved and must have lost it.' I have complained to Duke University Medical Center about the lost application containing personal information that I do not want floating around unguarded.
1/10/03 - Hand delivered application and copy of fax from original submission to the clueless secretary. Pregnancy has emptied her brain of what little intelligence she may have possessed.
1/29/03-Have appointment for orientation(?) on March 13. Hope my best friend will be able to go with me to that, to help me retain information! I've mellowed out about the office staff, but it is an irksome matter to deal with still . . .
2/11/03 - I have a clinic appointment on February 26! YeeHaaa!!
2/27/03 - Much better than I expected! The staff at the registration desk for the complex are excellent. Ms Shambley made the appointments for remaining tests while I was with Dr. Applegate the program psychologist. Ms Blackwood the FNP is so very good. I received a good exam without a big wait, she covered many things I had questions about before i could ask!. Looks like the 1st part of June will be the time of surgery. Dr. Applegate is pretty cool - her questions were interesting in their structure and the different ways that asked for the same information (for consistency in answers). I'm a happy girl!
3/14/03 - went to Dr. Grant's info session-for people just getting into looking at surgery to those who have had a clinic visit (like me). He is so cool! Didn't dumb down the scientific information, gave info on the papers he quoted, just very good presentation. My support person and I especially liked being in a room with that many large people! And I didn't feel like the biggest one there!
5/15/03 - Had to have new bloodwork - HbA1C was too high, so I have been trying to be as hardcore as possible. PCP helping with changes of insulin dosings. Now to wait for the results. . .
7/9/03 - The drs have finished their stuff, now waiting for the insurance to clear. Have a tentative date of AUGUST 14!!!
7/15/03 - I HAVE A DATE!!! AUGUST 12!!! Thank you God! 4 weeks from today I make the move!
8/1/03 - Had the surgeons' consult today, w/Drs. Grant and Pryor, plus a meeting with Dr Applegate the clinical psychologist who runs the behavior modification and support groups for the practice. The nice thing is you meet the people going through at the same basic time as you are, so you have someone who is at the same healing/refeeding point! After a consult with Dr. Grant in the exam room, where he examined my history, asked a few questions and answered them as well, went to Durham Regional Medical Center ne: Durham County Hospital, where the surgery takes place. DRMC is a part of the Duke Health System - Duke took over the management of DRMC and Lincoln Community Health Center in Durham in an agreement with the City/County of Durham several years ago. I like this set up, since DRMC is a very good facility, without the size of Duke North (DUMC's primary hospital). Parking is easy, the employees are very nice and helpful. I worked here as a temp 15 years ago, and left only because I went to work at Duke!
One thing was interesting - some of my partners in surgery were told to show up at 8:30, I was told to come at 8:45 in the am! Oh Well, WhatEVER!
In our meeting with Dr. Pryor, we went through the consent form, HIPAA act information on privacy, and asked questions. She presented morbidity/mortality information which, while sobering, is not statistically significant (unless you had one of the few bad outcomes!). Dr. McMahon is on vacation, so we don't have him in the surgery loop. I want to get some still photos from the surgery, and I am disappointed that we can't get a cd-rom or dvd burned from the video output. It would be nice to have that as a part of the surgery experience, since I won't be able to watch...
Dr. Applegate handed out our handbooks for the support group and had us introduce ourselves. We then had a discussion of our preop fears, while she studied the group dynamic and helped us prepare mentally for the surgery.
Bring on the bowel prep and let's get cutting!!!
9/2/03 - Back To Work! Met my father in Atlanta, and switched cars and returned Mama last Thursday/Friday. The drive back was warm, with no AC in my car, so I fought hard to keep hydrated.
But today at work was good. I took my smoothie with me, and ate on it all day, since I froze it the night before. I go back for followup visit, my first, on the 8th. I've lost ~28 lbs since August 12th (3 weeks today), so it is good. This is the best thing I have done for myself in a long while!
10/10/03 - I've lost a bunch more weight, ~50 lbs, and I feel so good. I've been walking every day, and I try to do some toning work when I'm home and watching tv. The cats think I'm a little strange not to want to sit down and love them! The support here at work is awesome. Everyone is commenting on my weight loss, and asking about the surgery. My biggest problem has been learning the 'full' point. I've had a bit of reflux from that, but that's my own fault. I have not done any beef or pork so far, but I can eat Mexican, Chinese and Japanese foods. Had 4 pieces of California roll and the rice didn't cause a problem! Of course, that filled me up. To keep from the boredom/habit eating that I used to do, I have been crocheting snowflakes and working on gourdcraft. Just learned how to make a shekere', and that requires both hands! very helpful. . .
11/25/03: Went shopping last Friday night, after a Thursday checkup at the Surgeon's. I have lost 52 lbs per their scales and have dropped almost 10 points in BMI! Of course, I started off at a higher weight since I tried to lose before going to the clinic. . .Bought a pair of size 24 jeans, last time that happened was in 93 or 94, so it was exciting!
12/5/03 - the new jeans are getting baggy! And, my HbA1c is down to 6.7, from a high pre-surgery of 9.4. It is all good
3/7/05 - haven't updated in a while! Down ~150 lbs, in 16w or 18/20 misses! it is so awesome. BMI is down in the low 30s, and my health is excellent. I actually stopped by my PCP to show off, since I haven't had to go see her for months. I'm changing careers - to becomea chef - and am in the process of moving back to south louisiana to be nearer the aging parents. But it is all good! Especially seeing the scales around the 200 mark from 353!
6/13/05 - size is around 16-18 still - have apron that interferes with clothes selection, but have moved into 'average' fit bras, which is nice! I'm still losing, just not so fast - but did drop a size in 5 weeks, so that's not bad. Am on my feet at work 8 hrs/day (doing retail in a department store) and the standing isn't an issue. Last unofficial weight was 194/
Photos
 356 2 week prior to surgery - taken 7/29/03 |
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About Me
Baton Rouge, la
Location
27.5
BMI
Surgery
08/12/2003
Surgery Date
Sep 03, 2002
Member Since