lightlyspice
This journey for me has been a rough one which will only make me appreciate the experience even more. I started out at Ft. Lewis, Wa. but am now at Ft. Campbell.
I have been overweight every since childhood. In adulthood I am now labeled as obese.
Tuesday, April 6, 2004, 9:13a.m.
I have a group consultation on April 20,2004 at Madigan Army Medical Center. Thank you to all for so much support on the start of my journey. God bless you all!
Wednesday, April 21, 2004 7:49a.m.
I went to my group consultation yesterday at Madigan and was surprise to see that mostly all of the information that they gave, I already had researched and found. The waiting list is any where
from 6 months to 2 years. Dr. Carter came in to answer any questions we may have had. More surgeries are being done weekly so that is encouraging. I am now on the list for surgery, but I am number 200+ person. Everything is FREE, provided by the military. Next week I start making Nutrition and Physical Therapy appointments. We also have to go to Occupational therapy and Behavioral Health appointments. Even though they say I and other patients are on the list, we will receive a letter indicating that we are eligible for surgery.
Monday, April 26, 2004 9:00a.m.
Today I made my appointment for the Nutrition Clinic which isn't until June. I am waiting for Occupational Therapy Clinic and Behavioral Health Clinic to call with an appointment.
Friday, May 7, 2004 9:03a.m.
I am excited to say that my Nutrition appointment has been moved up to May 11. I also got my letter from Madigan saying that I qualify for the surgery. I also have an appointment for June 7, with Dr. Eggebroten, one of the team surgeon members. There are 4 doctors performing the surgery right now. Dr. Watts, Dr. Eggebroten, Dr. Rush, and Dr. Carter. Everything is moving pretty steady and I am praying that it continue to do so.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004 11:19p.m.
Today I went to my nutrition appointment which was a group setting. The Dietitian told us how to eat after surgery and more. After that appointment, in the same room, they held a wls support group meeting. It was really great to meet some people that have gone through the procedure already. Now I'm waiting on my June 7 date with surgeon.
Saturday, May 22, 2004 12:21a.m.
I got a call on Thursday from Madigan Army Hospital's Behavioral Health Clinic. I have an appointment for May 26.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004 6:03pm
Today I went to my Behavioral Health Clinic appointment. She basically talked about how to change your attitude towards food to manage the weight. Most of it is something that we who have struggled with weight all our lives have heard before.
Monday, June 7, 2004 11:21pm
I went to see one of the surgeons to discuss my surgery.
I am number 203 on the list for surgery. They are doing 4 surgeries a week and Dr. Egg said that it will be a year and a half before I get the surgery. When I am number 50 or less on the list, I will receive a call from someone to prepare for the surgery. Madigan is an Army hospital.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
I have been trying to get an earlier surgery date which looks like it may be around September or October. I have an appointment with Dr. Carter on July 30, to see if I can get him to move my surgery up sooner. The reason for this rush is because we are PCSing sometime in September. If I don't get the surgery here, I have to start over at Ft. Campbell on the waiting list. I will let you know if surgery is a go.
Friday, July 30, 2004 10:00pm
I had an appt with Dr. Carter today to try and get my surgery before leaving to the next post, of course he said no.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2004
WE MOVED TO FT. CAMPBELL, KY
I am starting my process over, I have to call for an appointment with Blanchard Army Hospital.
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2005
I have put in my referral with Blachfield and it took a couple of months, but now I am seeing Dr. Steely in Clarksville. My appointment is at the end of this month.
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2005
Yesterday I went to the seminar which Dr. Steely lead. It was informative, but I already knew most of the information from starting this process at Ft. Lewis.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2005
I went to my appointment today with Dr. Steely. I have to start all of my testings and classes. Here is a list of them:
Gallbladder Ultrasound
EGD/Colonoscopy
Sleep Study
Psy Evaluation
Dietary Consult class
Education Class
Attend Support Group meeting
Physical Exam w/ Surgeon
Here are the appointments that I have completed:
Attend the Informational Seminar-------- April 25, 2005
Health Assessment Register---------- April 2005
Mandatory Pre-Surgery Edu. Class---- May 4, 2005
Support Group Meeting--------------- May 16, 2005
Dietary Consult---------------------- May 25, 2005
Psychological Evaluation-------------- May 26, 2005
Sleep Study/CPAP Titration----------- June 25, 2005
Physical Exam------------------------ July 18, 2005
I am excited about being so close to having my life changed. I have so much to do still before surgery. It's crunch time!
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Today I have been feeling sick to my stomach and vomiting every few hours. I guess it is the antibioctics medicine. Tomorrow I go into surgery at 6a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005
Went in for surgery at 6:30a.m. had surgery around 12 or 1p.m.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
I was being prayed for and blessed by so many. Thank you BAF family. I love you all. My stay in the hospital was the best especially that little pump that you push whenever you felt like it. My daughters stayed with me through the whole thing. I was never alone. My own mother never did that for me. God Bless. They took care of me the whole time. They saw what the nurses did and then they did it. Young girls 16 and 11 years old. There was some anointing going on there. (prayers) They took me to the bathroom all through the night, they kept me clean. They slept in a chair next to me and checked on me. I have never felt that much love in my whole life. They are my angels too, along with my BAF.
I was on oxygen the whole time I was there and hated that contraption. My oldest daughter made sure that I did everything to a T. She was on it. No pain no game, was here motto. (I guess dad being in the military has rub off on her) The 11 yr. old, I could get away with a little if I talked in my baby talk voice, but she caught on quick. They know all the games because they use them themselves.
I just want to thank everyone out there for all of your support. Kentucky board, Tennessee board, BAF, Washington state board, and others.
Friday, July 29, 2005
I am still on my full liquid diet until Aug. 3 which will be 2 weeks for me. I have now lost 16lbs, so I am now 208lbs from 224lbs. I have been taking my vitamins and walking for 30mins a day. I feel great, just a little soarness left in the stomach area.
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005
My stomach is still a little sore, but healing everyday. I suffer terrible with cotton mouth(dry mouth). I get a brust of energy around 12midnight or 1 a.m. in the morning. I have to get up and walk around to wear myself out so that I can go back to sleep. It doesn't take long.
I drink a lot of water. I would rather have water then anything else, I can't get enough of it so I am sipping all day long. I think it is because of the dryness in my mouth.
My weight lost is now-----22lbs. I am 202lbs.
I can't wait to get out of the 200s.
August, 10, 2005, Wednesday
Today I went to my doctor's appointment. I weighed in at 195lbs. I
have lost almost 30lbs.
August 31, 2005, Wednesday
I now weigh 185lbs. and physically feeling good, but mentally and emotionally, I am struggling. I will be see my psychologist soon to work through these issue. I go to see my doctor(surgeon) on Sept. 8.
September 15, 2005, Thursday
I am doing fine but have not made it to the gym like I want to do. I make sure to get some walking in everyday, but it is not enough because my skin is getting loose. I can't stand it, my breast are starting to sag more, my arms are getting jiggly.....I have to make it to the gym.
I now weigh in at 181 lbs., almost out of the 80s and into the 70s.
I wear a size 16 in jeans and size Large in tops.
I still love water, can't stand anything with splenda in it, but I keep trying to acquire that taste, not working.
October 22, 2005, Saturday
I am down to 170lbs and feeling great. I workout 5 days a week and loving it.I do the treadmill(30 to 45mins), Eliptical trainer(15mins), and weight lifting(1 hr). I wear a size 12/14 in jeans. Large in shirts. I have been at 170 a couple of weeks now so I hope to be moving on down the weight scale soon again. I may be taking in too many carbs, so I am keeping an eye on it. My hair is shedding alot now, but it's all good.
December 8, 2005, Thursday
I am down to 156lbs. which is 68lbs lost to date. I now wear a 11/12 in pants. A medium in shirts/blouses. I just had my appt. with Dr. Steely's office staff and everything was fine.
April 26, 2006, Wednesday
I was down for a while because I stayed stuck at 150lbs. for a few months, so I thought that that was it. After starting free weights with a gym buddy my weight started to come down again. Right now I am 140lbs.
I have a hernia that will be removed soon and along with that I am getting a tummy tuck. I wear a size 6 or 8 in cloths, medium size. I had to put down $2000 to start for the tummy tuck but my insurance is paying for the hernia. I didn't have enough extra skin for my insurance to pay for the tummy tuck but that is fine because I feel so bless just to have been able to have WLS. It has truly changed my health for the better. Thank you Lord!
May 30, 2006, Tuesday
I am doing great and still recovering from my TT. Feeling great and ready to workout again. I can only do the treadmill for now, and then back to the weights in a few weeks. I am now 136lbs. I am not use to feeling the bones on my body and sometimes it freaks me out but I guess I will get use to all of that. I use to be a D cup but am now down to a C cup and maybe even a B which I wasnt expecting to happen.
