Welcome to My Journey
September 16, 2004
My tentative surgery date is November 23, 2004. I have my first appointment Monday with the coordinator of Harbour Weight Loss Center. I will get my appointments with the dietitian and psychologist. My surgeon is Dr. Glen Moore.
I will update this after each appointment.
At times I'm excited then scared to death.
September 22, 2004
I'm really upset. I have all my appointments made, from the Nutrition and Psycologist and all the other tests. I found out today that my insurance is saying they have nothing yet on the surgery and denied the first bill. I might have to post pone everything and keep at the insurance company. The only problem is my company I work for is changing insurance carriers the first of the year and if they put me off enough, I'll have to start all over again with a new company. Can anybody give me some advise? I just don't know which way to turn.
September 23, 2004
I went on my carriers web site last night and did about 3 hours research. I have the right form now for my surgeon's office to file and what codes they need to use for the pre testing. After several phone calls I have my psych evaluation fully covered. Its a beginning but I have a feeling this is going to be rough with the insurance company.
October 12, 2004
My insurance company has approved me! I was so happy today, it has really taken alot of stress off me.
I didn't know you could be this happy about having surgery. Yesterday I had to have a colonoscopy and while I was waiting I keep thinking do I really want to have surgery? It's a strange feeling but I'm going through with this.
This week I have a group meeting to attend and a seminar on nutrition. The following week I have blood work, EKG, and a mammogram. I think a chest xray too. The week after that I have a clearance exam through my cardiologist.
So many appointments, I ended up printing calender sheets from my computer and writing everything down. They are a great way to be able to check all my appointments.
My boss has also been so great through this. I am a Support Rep at a bank, so my schedule is pretty flexiable. Thank God, my boss is too. I ordered her a vase of flowers for boss' day.
Anyone who is waiting for approval, hang in there, I called my insurance company about every 4 days. I think they're glad to get rid of me. Take care.
October 29, 2004
I've gotten all my test behind me, all thats left is my clearance through my primary care physican and to see Dr. Moore one more time. I even have the time to be at the hospital! 5:30am. At least I won't have to wait around.
I even have my fmla through work approved.
Now the only thing that can postpone this is I got a letter back yesterday on my mammogram. They found something that is "probably benign findings", thats how it was stated on the letter, and they want me to come back in 6 months for another mammogram. I'm going to get hold of my primary today and see what the findings actually were.
Pray for me that this is just a cyst or fiber tumor and everything can continue.
November 13,2004
I had my post-op visit yesterday and my surgery has been changed to the 22nd. Everything is ready! Well almost, I have a zillion things to do at home yet. My mammogram was fine, there was a dense area that they want to re-check in 6 months but my primary said its been there for the last 4 mammograms. He said the letter should have never been sent. The only thing is that the closer it gets, I'm getting very nervous. Everybody keep their fingers crossed for me.
January 18, 2005
I haven't entered anything since November. So much has happened.
I went to the hospital November 22nd. I was so scared. My husband and I were sitting in the waiting room and I began crying. I wanted to back out, I was getting ready to leave when the nurse came out to get me. I went to get prep still not sure if I could go through with it. Well the person scheduled before me cancelled and they were buzzing all around to get me ready. After that I didn't have time for backing out. I remember meeting the anesthesiologist and not much afterwards until I woke up in my room. Dr. Moore said I did really well through surgery, but had some complications with my blood pressure and sick from the anesthesia. But I was released in 3 days and went home.
I am 2 months out now. I have lost 44 lbs and starting to take back different foods. I can not tolerate sugar, which is great for me, and breads and pastas.
Though I feel great I'm still wondering if I should have done this.
February 6, 2005
I have reached a 50lb. lost now. Thought I'm feeling pretty good, I'm having a rough time drinking protein shakes. Most of them make me sick. Either they are just plain nasty or they are too sweet. But I keep trying until I can find something I can tolerate. Any sugestions are welcome.
April 23, 2005
I have reached a 81 lb. lost now. Though I've had a couple bumps in the road, I am doing great now. I am getting my protein in, I found an unflavored protein and I mix up some great shakes. I also make a yogurt fluff with protein and jello that makes a great dessert for me at lunch or dinner. But I have learned protein first than my veggies and fruits.
I wasn't able to exercise for awhile but want to get started back as soon as possible, and with this nice weather coming back I told my husband to get my bike out of the garage and dust it off.
May 15, 2005
I went to a support group meeting this week and heard alot of things I really needed. Dr. Spencer (one of the surgeons in the group I go to)was talking about the numbers on the scales and how we put too much importance on them. He was totally on the point for me, I keep hearing of the amounts of weight loss some of the patients are having and I wonder if I'm going to fail at this too. I've only lost an additional 5 lbs since April and it has really been bothering me. But in the last 6 months have lost a total of 86lbs. So in the big picture I think I'm doing fantastic now. We had a lady talking to us about Image Recovery and I really need to check into it. I still see myself as a 300 lb person and I don't see myself as others do. So many changes right now and sometimes its hard to handle. I am so glad that my surgeons have a great support system, I think its something that everyone going through this needs.
May 22, 2005
I had to go Thursday to have a mammogram done again. The one I had in October came back as an abnormal mammogram. The mass they were looking at has almost disappeared. The doctor said that the extra fat that was in my breast could have been causing the problem. I don't know if I should hug him or smack him but I'm relieved that it wasn't anything else. I do have to go back in 6 months and have another one just to be on the safe side. I had to have my blood work completed for my 6 month check up after the surgery and they took 6 tubes of blood. I had a problem with a bleeding ulcer in March and I'm trying to get everything built back up and they're taking all!!!!
But all in all I feel great and have now come to the decision that this was the best thing I've ever done for me.
I did want to add that I did try to over eat one night, it was only a Oven Roasted Chicken salad from KC and a small slice of Angel Food cake with strawberries, but believe me I will never eat that much again. Between throwing up for at least an hour and chills, I wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere. FOOD IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT TO DO THAT TO MYSELF!!!!!!!!! It's amazing how our whole concept changes after this surgery. The thing is that it has to, after what I've been through I don't want to gain the weight back again and if I eat too much and stretch my pouch it is a reality.
May 29, 2005
Thank You so much for my new profile Heidi! I love it!!!!
I am at 6 months now and have lost a total of 93lbs. I wanted to be under 200 for my birthday but I have reached 200 and will celebrate this mark. I have went from a size 28 to a size 18 and still look at my image and say " Who is that person??"
My husband is taking me to Bush Gardens in Williamsburg today for my birthday and I excited like a kid. It's been years!!!!!!
since I've went any place like this. I will take pictures and hopefully can add one to my profile.
Six months ago I was scared to death and was afraid that I would never come back from the hospital. Now I wouldn't trade this for the world.
Thank You God for sending me a skilled surgeon and all the support I have received on my Journey.
Grace ( 50 years young May 27th 2005!!)
Busch Gardens, Williamsburg
May 29th 2005.....200lbs
Total 93lbs.
June 6th, 2005
Its June 6th already and I had my 6th month check up Friday. Why is it when you go to the doctors, the scale weighs you at least 5 lbs heavier?? I was alittle worried because my weight loss is slowing up but Dr. Moore assured me that I'm right on target. My BMI is down from 46 to 32, I have lost 70% of my weight. All my blood work came back great, my hemoglobin is back up to 11 and my iron is at 46%. My hair is falling out a little bit but not that bad. I'll just pick up alittle more protien and they said it would help. The only problem I have now is taking the liquid calcium. I can't take the pills, I just can't handle the horse capsules, but if I take the 4 tbsp of the liquid a day, I really get constipated, I've cut back to 2 tbsp a day but if anyone has a suggestion I would appreciate it.
I now can wear a size 18 and some 16's. that to me is fantastic. Yesterday I went to a family picnic and my x sister-in-law showed a home movie from the late 80's. I was soooo embrassed on how big I was in the pictures! Please God don't let me get like that again.
June 12, 2005
I'm celebrating today. I made it under 200!!! I am at 198 now and loving it! I have not seen this weight in years!!!
I even went out last night on the boat and saw the fireworks for Harbor Fest with my hubby. (big celebration here) What a joy it was to get in and out of the boat without almost have to have a tow truck. Which I can say about myself now but if anyone would have said anything to me than I probably would have cried or went off on them. What I'm more aware of now that there are more overweight people around, and I thought I was the only one. Talk about being self involved.
Okay now I'm going to sound like a commercial, but my hubby bought me a Magic Bullet. He bought it off one of those info commercials, and I thought it was alot to pay for it, but you know I love it for my protein drinks. Everything is mixed in one cup and its a glass too! No more pulling out the blender and going thorugh all that. Pour it in the glass mix it and drink it. I even mix it on the go and take it with me.
Good investment if you make your own protein drinks, and now you can buy them at the stores. Just an FYI.
June 25, 2005
I was emailing a friend and had to share what I wrote her and what I have learned about myself..............
I know what your saying about losing the desire to work at it, when I was going to Weight Watchers with you I would try, but did not have the desire to make it work.
I just got tired of trying so hard and not getting anywhere. If it wasn't for my cardiologist I would have given up. He was the one that kept pushing me to check into the surgery. But even with the surgery, it doesn't take the desire away. There are still times I eat things I shouldn't or over eat, except now I get really sick. But even knowing what I do now and what I been through I would do it again. This is a learning period for me, I still have to change my eating habits, because if I take too much back or eat foods high in fats and sugar I can gain weight back. This is just a tool to lose the weight, but I still have to make life style changes.
Wow...........I can still learn!!
July 21, 2005
I have a update for this month, I now weigh 186 lbs and wear a size 14!!!!!!!!!! For me this is unbelievable. I do need to gather more information on the dietary side. I belong to a support group that's with my surgeon, but I feel I need something more. I need to learn more about what foods I can take back and the amounts. I was told I should be eating only 1/4 c to 1/2 c at a time and only three meals aday, no snacking because I would be grazing. But shouldn't you have 2 snacks or 5 to 6 small meals aday?? I am eight months out and would be hungry all the time.
My friend who had her surgery a week before me has lost 92 lbs and was told she was not in the curve and must be doing something wrong. I didn't think this was a race. She is exercising and eating right, in fact she exercises more than I do. She was so upset when she was told she was failing. No one should be treated like that from a doctor or his staff. I just feel we need a better support system but not sure where to go from here.
Just needed to voice this.
August 31, 2005
Wow, a month has gone by and I haven't updated anything. I'm going to have my husband take another picture so I can get my profile updated. I weighed in at 180. My weight loss has really slowed down. I want to lose 20 more pounds to get to my goal of 160. I was hoping when I saw Dr. Moore in December for my year I would be at goal. But I'm exercising more, I joined Curves the end of July and just had my first weigh in and lost 5.2 lbs since I joined but 3.5 inches! Mostly from my waist and hips!!! I think the inches impressed me the most.
I've also found a great book and workbook and have been learning from those. New habits I need to develop further to maintain this wonderful weight loss. The book is The Succes Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients and the Final Success Workbook.
My main concern now is learning to maintain and not gain back everything that has melted away. That would be a terrible waste of a wonderful tool. I need to learn alot more, I don't want to be a statistic of the peolpe who gained thier weight back. I think that's my worse nightmare right now, that I will fail again.............
October 31, 2005
It's been so long since I updated my profile. So much has happened in my life that I've been able to deal with, without over eating. The main thing was to deal with the lost of a love one. It was so sudden and I didn't run to food for comfort. I had to travel to Arizona and was able to buy an airline ticket and go as a normal person. My family was surprised, they have not seen me in 3 years, so walking in at 168 lbs from 293 was a shock.
I am updating my profile with a new picture, I will do a better update in November.
Decemeber 24, 2005
Merry Christmas!!! It has been one year and a month and I have reached my surgeon's goal. I have lost 127 lbs!!! I now weigh 166, which is a far cry from 293. I want to reach 163 for my personal goal, but if I never lose another pound I will be forever grateful to Dr. Moore and his staff. I can't begin to tell you the ways my life has changed. To begin with I have a life!! I love to dress up and go out, and a year ago I would never go any where. I love motorcycles and I have a new crusier now and my husband and I love to ride. I have moved up in my job and I would have never attempted that before. I go to parks, clubs, parties, my husband can't believe the change but loves keeping up with me. I even went and had Glamour Shots taken for him for Christmas!!!! Of course one of my main goals is too keep going to support meetings and to make sure I make all my life changes are permanent.
I don't want to gain any weight back and that means work on my part. I exercise at Curves 3 times aweek, plus I have a treadmill at home for the other days. I still can't eat bread or take back too much sugar, but I can live with that.
This is the best Christmas present I could have received. I will never regret my decision, it was the best thing I did for myself. I pray that everyone else that had the surgery and everyone thinking about it, will have good results and health.
April 14, 2006
I received the best complements yesterday. The first one was at work, when a former co worker came in to fill out an app and she didn't know who I was and when she found out she just thought I looked fabulous!! Good way to start the morning!!
The second was another former co worker at the support group meeting, and she didn't know me. I was very excited about giving her information on the surgery and filling her in on what she can look forward too.
I also wanted to add in that I bought a motorcycle!! I love to ride and I decided I wanted to have my own. What a great feeling it is to be able to have a life and just not go through the motions!!
August 2006
I wanted to update my profile. I am now 21 months out and feeling fantastic. I have maintained my weight now for the last 10 months! Maintained!! What a fantastic word. To understand that you would have to know that I never maintained a weight. When I did lose alot of weight on Weight Watchers I might have maintained it for a few hours. I always went back to my old eating habits. Don't get me wrong, I can still do that, the main point is I know now what to do and I never took to much back so when I'm full I know to stop. If not, I will pay a steep price, and its just not worth it. I love wearing a size 14 and its fun shopping now. I can actually go into a regular department store and find clothes!!!! I can go to a theater and fit in a set!!!! I can go to a resturant and set in a booth!!! And the most amazing, I can fly out to see my mother and sit in one seat!!!! I go to Busch Gardens and Water Country and ride the rides!!!! I have my own motorcycle and love to ride!!! I HAVE A LIFE!!!!
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