Hetzelc
The beginning......
11/25/05
I have been thinking about WLS for a few years. I finally got brave enough to talk to my dr. about it. He didn't like the idea the first time I talked to him a couple of years ago. This time I went in with all my Weight Watchers weigh-in books, and every journal I have ever written from every diet I have been on. This time he said he would support my decision to have surgery. I already went to an info meeting about the surgery. I filled out all the paperwork before the consultation could be scheduled. It took several hours and lots of reflection to fill out all the forms. I didn't realize how often and how many diets I have been on. I never took the time to inventory all of it. Wow!
I mailed the forms along with copies of all my journals and WW books.
I went to a monthly support group meeting in October. It was very good. I met a couple of very nice people who will have surgery this year. I plan on attending every meeting. I can see how they can really help.
I went to a consult appointment with my husband. I love the surgeon and staff! Everyone is so kind. I have been reading so much about this surgery I didn't have any questions. The videos that we watched didn't give any new information that I didn't already know. I want to have the surgery after school is out so they will not submit paperwork to the insurance company until March or April. I hope that is enough time. I did get a date though! I will keep busy in the mean time practicing taking smaller bites, sipping water instead of gulping, and eating slower.
I have been highly motivated to clear out clutter in my house. I have gone through two rooms now! I am throwing away the clutter that can't be passed on or sold. Everytime I wanted to hold on to something I just told myself to let go of the past. I am making room for my future. I also set a date for cutting out diet coke, and sugar. I don't want to have withdrawals at the same time that I am getting used to my new life. I want to lose some weight before my surgery too. I have 6 months to go! I work at a school and I just started this year. I didn't want to do it during the school year. I think that would be too stressful!
I love this site! I have learned a lot from all of you! You have inspired me!
12/1/2005
Why do I want to do this?
I want to live!
I want to Keep up with my husband!
I want to Keep up with my 5 year old!
I want to stay active with the Youth Group I work with at church
Travel - fit in those tiny airplane seats/bathrooms
Go to a crowded movie and not feel like I am taking up three seats
Walk at a fast pace without huffing and puffing.
Walk around a store without getting a cart to lean on.
Walk without having pain in back
I want to take up Tae Kwon Do with my son - Could there be a black belt in my future? Hmmmm
I want to like the way I look in my clothes
I want to buy clothes that do not have an X in the size
I want to put my socks and shoes on without holding my breath and turning red.
I want to be able to wipe my backside easier
I want to enjoy warm weather and not feel like I am going to pass out when it is over 70 degrees.
I want to be able sit on the floor with my son
I want to be able to pick up things that fall on the floor and not have it be such an effort.
I want to be able to sleep w/o having to heave and ho whenever I want to roll over.
I want to go to the dr and not have my weight be the reason for all that hurts.
I want to be normal looking. Not the largest person at all gatherings.
I want to have one size in my closet
I want to ride roller coasters!
I want to learn to ride a motor cycle
I want to keep my CDL - I must have a physical every two years to keep it. I almost didn't make it last time!
I want to be smaller than my husband!
I want to feel good in my own skin!
I don't want to embarrass my husband and kids because of my size.
These are only a few of the reasons I want to do this surgery. I wanted to write my reasons so that when things get hard I can look back at my list and remember why I am doing this.
1/1/06
Happy New Year! I don't really have any new Surgery Info to post yet. I am still very excited about having the surgery. I have been successful removing diet coke out of my diet. I have been practicing taking smaller bites and sipping water. I have been walking every day at lunch. I have not lost any weight yet. I really haven't been watching the amounts going in. I am still trying to make myself slow down. I feel this will be my biggest challenge. It is so easy to inhale the food and go on to the next thing on my to do list. Now the biggest priority on my to do list is getting healthy.
1/2/06
I am planning a trip to Kenya a year after WLS. I have been thinking about the malaria and yellow fever pills that have to be taken before, during, and after a visit to Africa. I need to find out if they are time released and if I will be able to absorb what I need from the pill after WLS. I will take shots for what I can but I am not sure if I can get some of them with a shot. I don't want to ruin my chances to go to Kenya, but I can't go there at this weight either. I will keep researching this and update later.
1/16/06
I finally figured out how to get a picture on here. Yeah. This isn't the best picture. I don't like my picture taken so it was hard to find one.
I called the surgeon's office last week about my consult bill. Somehow they couldn't find a copy of my insurance cards. When I had my consult the surgery coordinator didn't have her 2006 calendar yet. She wrote everything down and told me that she would make sure it got on the calendar. While I was on the phone I asked to speak with her. She is the one that had copies of my insurance cards. I found out that she no longer works there. I had a moment of panic! It turns out that Jennifer has everything under control! Yeah! I asked her when she was going to submit info to the insurance company. She said that she wasn't going to do it too soon because she didn't want to turn it in too early and risk having to do it all again. I asked her when I needed to do the pshyc eval. She said I can do it any time. I called my insurance to find out if it is a covered benefit. So far we keep missing each other and we have had to leave messages with each other. I will call back tomorrow. The surgery coordinator gave me the name of a pshyc that they like to use. I want to get that over with. I also want to do something besides wait. It was my choice to wait until June. I'm sure the next five months will go by pretty quickly though.
3/21/2006
Wow, What a great day. I had my physc evaluation today. The Physc is a nice guy. He asked a bunch of questions about me. I took a test. The questions were T/F. He said that he will write a letter to the surgeon and insurance. He thinks I am emotionally stable enough to have the surgery. He has a monthly support group for post ops. I want to attend those after surgery. I really think my biggest fight is going to be with my thinking. I feel pretty confident about doing this surgery. I know it isn't going to be easy! I know that I will go through some depression. I am praying that God will help me through the hard times. I am not alone! I have God, and a very supportive family. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a nutritionist. I have a list of questions and my "blue book". I am three months away! It won't be long now!
3/22/2006
I had an appointment with the nutritionist today. I really like her. She was very informative. She said I can email her or call her any time. That is very comforting to know. I will call her when I have questions! I really didn't learn anything new yet but she confirmed what I already know. She was very encouraging.
3/28/06
I have been trying out different chewable calcium supplements to find one I think I can tolerate. The Viactiv is very tasty but it is a carbonate. I tried a lot of the chewable wafers. All brands. Yuck!!!!! They make me gag and I haven't had surgery yet. I don't have enough spit in my mouth to moisten those very dry wafers. I found a liquid that isn't too bad. It come is fruit flavors. I tried the orange. It is very thick and almost tastes like butter milk with flavor added. It is very thick. It is good mixed with Wal-Mart brand orange crystal light and unflavored protien powder. I also found a chewable citrate at Wal-Mart. I think I can handle these. They do not taste as good as Viactiv, but they are a lot better than the chewable wafers. My nutritionist said to use chewables whenever possible. I have read that some people take the pills when they are a way out from surgery. My nut. said that I should try to stick with chewables. She believes that they absorb better.
I called the surgeon's office to talk to the surgery coordinator about whether she submitted my paperwork to insurance and to see if she received the psch letter yet. She hasn't called back. I hope that she calls back tomorrow. I will have to call again. I am having a hard time waiting! Work is getting very busy! I know that it is going to get busier until the end of the school year. There is only 9 weeks left of school. I work two weeks after that. Then surgery!!!!!! It will go by very fast. I just hope that I don't have to miss a lot of work for extra appointments.
4/23/06
I called the Dr office again last week. They turned the paperwork in to the insurance company. Now more waiting. I hope I hear a positive response from the insurance company soon!
I have been buying supplies for after surgery. I am looking for portable protien. I want to have easy protien for snacks at work.
I haven't told very many people at work about surgery. I just don't want to deal with the negative comments. I know everyone will have an opinion. So far the people I have shared with are people who I work very close with. They need to know in case I have a problem at work. I think I can trust them. I will tell others when they ask how I am losing so much weight that it is a lot of hard work.
I have been trying to prepare my family as much as I can. I hope we are all ready for this. I know it is going to change a lot of things. My mind is going through so many gymnastics with what it is going to be like. I know that I am not going to be able to imagine how things are going to be. I will just have to prepare the best I can and take this one step at a time!
5/13/06
I picked up my mail today and there was a big envelope from Blue Cross Blue Shield. That is my secondary insurance company. It is a denial. I can't believe it! It said that a letter from my physician is not enough. I need to have 6 months of dr supervised weight loss and excersice program. Hello!!!! My dr said he wanted me to do Weight Watchers. I did that! I guess I needed to go to my Dr for a monthly weigh in. What is the point in that? Pay $50 a month for WW and then another $35 a month co-pay to weigh in at the Dr's office? Give me a break! I don't see how that would prove anything else that I haven't already tried. I am so disappointed. It didn't say anything about my gallblader surgery. I will have to call the Dr office on Monday.
My sister called today right after I got the news. I was so bumbed that I cried and told her what I was trying to do. I wasn't going to tell her. She really sounded supportive. I know she is scared for me! She just wants me to be healthy. She said that she will pray for me. Wow. That sure feels good.
5/15/06
I called the Dr. office today. The surgery coordinator wasn't in today. I left her a message. I will call back tomorrow if she doesn't get back to me. Bummer! I want to know something!
5/16/06
GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE APPROVAL FROM MY PRIMARY INSURANCE COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have heard that they usually deny the first time and you have to go through the appeal process. I was ready for that. The Surgery coordinator said that they faxed a confirmation number. She said she will call BCBS tomorrow and ask about what they will pay for the galbladder part of the surgery and co-pays. She said that my part will probably be around $2000. I have money put away for that. I am so happy! I am also scared.
I will have a half day of appointments before the big day!!!!
It is going to be here before I know it!!!! Wow!
6/4/06
I have an angel! She lives in the same town as me and she works in the same school district that I work in. I am so excited. I can't wait to meet her. I hope that we get a chance to meet before my surgery. I am her angel too! It is amazing to me how small our world really is. I have never met someone on line before.
I have 9 days until surgery! My aunt is coming and my sister is coming a week after my surgery. My sister is being very supportive! Wow! That was a real big surprise. She still doesn't like it, but she understands that I feel like I have to do this to get healthy.
My emotions are all over the place. I am excited, scared, worried, anxious, and hopeful! I am going to start fasting tomorrow. I want to start the liquid diet early so it isn't such a shock when I have surgery. Besides, I am hoping that I lose a couple of pounds. I know a week isn't going to give me a great big start, but I don't want to wait until the day before surgery. It is hard to wait as it is. I just want to be on the other side. My head has done a lot of mental gymnastics about what if, and what might be. I don't want to think about it any more. I have researched, and I am as prepared as I will ever be. It is time to just walk through that door.
Wednesday is my pre-op appointment. I will write more about that after my appointments. I already payed my co-pays for the surgery. I had to pay $1220. I am very fortunate that I didn't have to pay very much. I am so thankful!!!!!!!!!
6/12/06
Very nervous!!!! I feel like I am going to jump through my skin! I hope I can sleep tonight. Tormorrow is the big day! I am hoping this is the right thing to do.......I have done the research, I have gone to the support group meetings......Now it is just time to do it!!!!
6/13/06
I was up before my alarm clock this morning. It is here! I was told to take my protonix with as little water as I could when I woke up. I took it and hoped it would be ok. I have never had surgery in my life! I am scared of the unknown! I don't know what to expect.
6/23/06
Well, it has been a while since I posted. I have been very tired. I want to write about the surgery and what I have experienced up to now.
6/13/06 - surgery day - My Husband, Danny, and my Aunt Jeannie went with me to the hospital. They let Danny come back while they started the IV and then let my Aunt come back until they took me to surgery. I changed into a gown and layed down on the bed. I was very nervous about the IV. The nurse wrapped a warm damp towel around my hand. Then she gave me a shot in my hand to numb it. Then she started the IV. Of course I couldn't feel a thing! Then she gave me a shot in my stomach. That hurt a little. I have a great big bruise now. But so far so good. Then she washed my stomach with the same thing they gave me to shower with. I am very tickalish (sp?) I am glad they don't do this surgery while you are awake!!!! Two nurses asked me what my name was and what kind of surgery I was having. They put wrist bands on me. Then the anestiologist came in and asked the same questions. And he was soooo handsome!!! Why can't these people be ugly? I mean they see you at your very worst!!!! My surgeon came in and asked if I was ready. I said yes!!! He had a twinkle in his eye and I thought I am going to be ok. The anestiologist gave me a happy coctail!!! Man!!! I was feeling pretty good. I was wheeled to the Operating Room. Wow! I get motion sick in the front seat of a car. This was quite a ride. I thought to myself if we go around one more corner I am going to throw up!!!! Luckily I didn't. They wheeled me next to a little table. They helped me slide over to the table. By this time I was very happy!!!! They introduced me to everyone in the room....yeah....I will never remember their names.....besides all I saw was their beautiful eyes! Somehow I could tell everyone was smiling at me. I don't remember laying down. The next thing I remember is waking up with a nurse on each side of me in the recovery room. I talked so loud! I was drunk!!! I asked them if I was breathing! My chest hurt right at the bottom of my rib cage. It felt like I couldn't breath. They told me it was the gas and that I was breathing just fine. I kept rubbing the arm of the nurses that got too close. I have no idea what I was thinking. The next thing I remember is waking up as they were wheeling me into my room. Danny and Aunt Jeannie were waiting for me. I had a leak from one of my incisions. A nurse cleaned it up and bandaged it up again. I remember her pushing on it. Nothing was very clear. I remember asking if I could walk.....she said I needed to wait a little while. I fell asleep until about 3pm. I woke up pretty good. My chest still hurt a lot!!! I talked with Danny and Aunt Jeannie for a while and fell asleep again. I woke up again and asked if I could walk. I finally got to walk about 6pm. It felt so good to get up and walk!!! I walked around the floor two times. I could have gone more but they said I needed to get rest.
The first night in the hospital was exhausting.....They checked my vitals every hour. I tried to sleep through it. I had a Nurse assistant that wanted to chat......Oh My!!!!
6/14/06....got up at 4am. The chatty nurse assistant took me to the bathroom....Then I wanted to walk. I wasn't ready to go back to bed yet. The nurse walked with me. I went around 4 times!!! I went back to bed and sleep. My incisions hurt to move!!! As long as I just sat still everything felt ok, but when I moved it really hurt. My chest didn't hurt as much. I feel much better than I did yesterday. Dr. Dickinson visited me in the morning. He said that I was boring....Everything went very well. I like boring!!!! He said that today I can have liquids. He wants me to walk about five times today. I had a hard time getting anyone to help me with walking. I got two walks. In the evening they disconneded the IV and let me walk on my own. I think I was being a pain in the neck! It was great to walk on my own. The first time out I felt a little dizzy..but it sure felt great to be free of my tether.
6/30/06
I have been getting better every day. It is still a big effort to eat. I never thought I would say that. I get hungry but it doesn't take much to fill me up. Beans, eggs, and blended tuna are my favorites so far. Milk still makes me feel sick. I hope that I will be able to drink it some day. I am still not getting all the water in. I get tired easily and take at least one nap a day. I have been walking about three miles a day. Every day really does get better and better. I am able to move around pain free. It only hurts when I try to lift something a little too heavy. I have been asking for a lot of help when it comes to lifting. I am so glad that I have the entire summer to figure out the eating and drinking before I return to school. I don't think I could have done this in two weeks over Christmas break. I have read about people who do.....but I don't think I could have done it!
I have been touching my arms and my legs a lot. My body is starting to feel very different to me. I lost 15 pounds in the first 10 days, but I have not weighed since then. I am only going to weigh in at the Dr's office. I don't want to get addicted to the scale. I really want to learn t listen to my body.
I try on clothes in my closet all the time. I am able to wear the clothes that were too tight to be comfortable. Now they look good and they feel pretty good too. I can wear a Walmart size 18 pants. Before surgery I was wearing a Walmart size 28/30 pants.
I know I should be more excited about the weight loss so far. It is hard to get too excited because I have been this low on my own before. It is going to get real exciting when I get below 200 pounds!!!! I haven't been there since I met Danny.
The only thing that I don't like so far about this surgery is my energy level. I can't wait to get that back!!!! Everything else is going pretty good so far.
7/31/06
I learned how to give myself a B12 shot today! Now I don't have to take it orally every day! One less thing I need to think about. I only have to take the shot one time a month. I wasn't sure if I could do it. It was really pretty easy to do. I feel pretty proud of myself! It didn't hurt. Yippee!!!!!
