Kim T.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Took the measurements today.  Never thought I would log these anywhere the public would have access to them...

Neck - 15"
Bust - 49 1/2"
Waist - 42
Hips - 52 1/2 "
L Arm - 16"
R Arm - 15 1/2"
L Thigh - 26 1/2"
R Thigh -  27 1/2"
L Calf - 17 1/2"
R Calf - 17 1/2"

Pant size 22
Top size 20 or 22

Weight 229

Height 5' 3"

Only 5 days left to go... Really haven't been doing much.  My nervousness about the surgery has subsided.  Its there in the back of my mind but I've decided to go ahead with the surgery.  

Still trying to get the last meal in.  I really would like an Italian dinner but not from some chain restaurant.  That means a bit of a driver up to Naperville.  It looks like we will have to go tonight as Thursday and Friday are jam packed, Saturday I'm on a liquid diet and Sunday I won't be leaving the house... I have to take Fleet starting at noon.  

I still have to get the boyfriend to take my before pictures... first time in a long time I'll let someone take a full length picture of me.  I'll also take all my measurements.

Talk to you again when I'm on the lossing side!

Had a great time.  Did tons of walking.  Hiked a few of the trails... next time it will be much easier cause all this excess wieght will be gone.  Went to Dollywood a couple of days and walked and walked and walked to all the rides and shops.  Walked the length of Gatlinsburg 6 times.  We are already planning our next trip.  This time for the fall to see all the trees change colors.  Only gained 2 pounds (all that walking didn't counter all that good eating).

The days are going by quickly until the surgery!  Went to the hospital today for the pre-op visit.  All the tests were already done so only had to meet with the addmittance nurse and the anestesiologiest.  Both asked why I was having the surgery cause I didn't look like I needed it nor did I look like I weighed that much.  Well... over the years I've learned to dress to hide the flaws (TLC's What Not to Ware has offered up some good tips) and if you are quiet I'll let you listen to my knees, hips and ankles snap, crackle and pop... by the way, its painful.

Wow... the days are just flying by.  When I get back from vacation there will only be 14 days left till my surgery.  But I want to go shopping for new clothes.  This was one of the problems I never had at a higher weight.  I would search places like Lane Bryant and the Avenue for treandy clothes.  It was a monthly habit... pick up a piece or two each month.  Well once my insurance company approved the surgery back in March I stopped buying new clothes.  Why waste the money to only ware something a few months.  And once I start losing the weight I'll have to buy new clothes, in smaller sizes, every few months (I hope!).  I'm going through withdrawal but my bank accounts look great.  Guess its better to save up the money for when I really need it.

The polyp result came back benign so I'm good to go.

Other than that not much more going on... holding steady at my current weight; just in wait mode.

The colonoscopy went fine.  They found 1 polyp but my surgeon was not concerned.  I'll find out on Thursday if pathology shows differently.  

If I could have twilight anesthesia for the RNY surgery I might be happy.  I woke up quickly with no ill side effects and was on my way home less than an hour after they finished the procedure.  And I remember nothing after they wheeled me into the exam room.

We're heading off on vacation next week to the Smoky Mountains.  Cannot wait to get away from the office and be able to have some fun hiking, relaxing in the hot tub and riding the rides at Dollywood.

Little side bar about work.  Things are going okay preparing for my leave of absence.  I've got a few who just don't get it.  I run a software support team.  We are responsible for keeping all the systems up and running for a 24x7 company.  I'm already short staffed by 4 people so when it comes to more people being off we are going to be hurting.  We requested that only one person be off at a time and that it be in week long blocks.  It just will make scheduling for my boss easier and we will ensure that there is coverage.  Well the gentleman from Russia stops by my office on Monday and says he wants every Friday in July off.  My answer no... with an explanation as to why.  "If you have every Friday off then if anyone else wants to take a vacation they will only be able to have Monday through Thursday off"... Well Joanne say it okay..."I'm sorry but I cannot approve the request...why don't you take a week off?"  He stormed off in a huff.  I don't think we are asking to much.  Originally my boss and VP wanted to deny vacations until I got back but I made them compromise.  

Also the people on my team are giving wrong information about my leave.  One of my peers called and said "I hear you will really only be off a week or two?  You really aren't going to be off the month of July"... where did you here that?  "Joanne told me"  My mouth dropped to the floor... what else is she and others saying.  Mind  you Joanne wants my job and feels she has the authority to make decisions that really are to come from me (we have had numerious talks about this).  To bad she has an issue with attendance and is not in the running to replace me.

Guess we will be having another discuss in our weekly meeting.  1. to ask them to refer people to me if someone has questions about my leave.  2. why we are placing some restrictions on time off.  3.  that my boss is an enforcer of the rules... only one person out of the office at a time and don't think that sending an email will cut it.  If you're sick, want to work from home or want a vacation you have to pick up the phone or step into her office and ask.  Maybe my leave will shape some of these people up. 

Tomorrow is my colonoscopy.  Just finished taking the Fleet and am just waiting for it to take effect.  If all goes well with the colonoscopy then I'm all set for the surgery.

I think I'm done waffling and am ready to go ahead with the surgery.  I've read all I can read and learned all I can learn about the goods, the bads, the risks and the rewards.  My mind is in the right place.

I'll let you all now how the test goes.

Its been quiet lately.  With all the paper work, tests and appointments done its now just the wait for July 7th.  Every so often I waffle and wonder if I am doing the right thing.  I keep weighing the goods against the bads.

I've been trying to walk an hour every day and the boyfriend and I have discussed joining a gym once I'm released for more strenuous exercise.  He is being very supportive of me and my decision to have this surgery which I am very thankful for.

Beyond that we planted the garden and all the flower beds.  As long as Illinois weather cooperates and we don't have a freak frost the plants should be okay.

And it went much better than I expected.  She's a registered dietician in Upstate New York who, until yesterday, I did not exactly know what types of patients she counseled.  And guess what... she counsels individuals who would like to have bypass surgery.  Her program and almost all in and around Rochester, NY require 12 weeks of supervised diet and exercise.  This is the piece she is responsible for.  Another group handles the after surgery plan.  If I had know this I sure would have let her know sooner.

We had a very good talk and she feels I have a very good understanding of what is in front of me.  She also says that every patients has different reactions to the surgery.  For some they don't follow the rules and are able to eat everything with no side effects (no dumping, no vomiting) but also no little weight loss.  Other are able to consume sugar again.  She was very honest about the program she works for and has seen patients that after 2 years start gaining the weight back.

She's going to talk to the other dieticians and find out what multi-vitamins and protein shakes they recommend.

I spoke with 2 people at work who recently had surgery.  They both agree that our health insurance is not the best but you just need to be persistent and make sure you do as much work up front as possible.  They both ended up having to only pay the $4,250 annual (which, thankfully, I can handle).  I should feel special... one had a hysterectomy and the other a double mastecotomy... both were approved for only 1 day in the hospital... I'm approved for 2.  Shocking isn't it... 1 day for a double mastecotomy...why would an insurance company even think that this is appropriate.

I also made some calls and found out more info on which of my surgeon's offices will file the paper work.  And I'll need to talk to the accounting department at the hospital to find out more about the cost of the surgery.  

When will this lunacy with my insurance company stop!!  Today I get a letter stating they will only provide coverage for 2 of the days I'm in the hospital.  Since its open RNY my surgeon wants me there 3 1/2 days.  Now I have to find out if the extra days will go towards my annual cap or if I get the joy of paying for it myself!     No matter how much they throw at me I will NOT give up... the insurance company is in for a fight.

I've got a call into the administrator of the Center for Weight Loss and Surgery at the hospital.  I already planned on talking to her to see if she could help out with making sure the colonoscopy and private room get covered but now I need to have this added to my list of health insurance woes.