linda_loo
1984 - I heard about a neighbor's VGB surgery and was shocked at how drastic it seemed.
2004 - A good friend had Laparoscopic RNY with Dr. Joseph Colella at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. While I fully supported him, I was convinced that I didn't need to have surgery to overcome my own obesity. I started checking out obesityhelp.org and begin reading about Dr. Colella and other surgeons in our area. I joined Weight Watchers with another good friend and feel very motivated to succeed and avoid surgery.
2005 - I have stopped losing at WW, am re-gaining some of the weight that I lost and am beginning to "give up". Also, it's getting harder for me to get around. I have always been an active person and could pretty much keep up with everyone else. I never thought I would be the mom who says "I can't keep up with my kids anymore," but I have. I find myself wanting to sit on the benches at the playground. I would rather sit at the computer and le them watch TV. I do not feel as strong as I used to, I get winded more easily. I have more aches and pains and I am seeing that I am becoming fat and lazy.
I hear about other friends and acquaintances that have had WLS, and ask about their surgeons, I know what is happening to me. My mind is changing. I lurk a lot on the messageboards, learning a lot, but am not ready to make the call for an appointment.
2.2006 - I have hit rock-bottom and given up, eating myself into gaining even more weight. I feel awful and I know I have to make a change. At the same time, a good online friend comes out to me, she is having a consult with her surgeon. Through some emails and some online conversations, I decide to call Dr. C's office and begin to take this big step.
4.23.2006 - I attended an orientation with Dr. C's group. This was led by Dr. W, and I did not get to meet Dr. C. There was a great Power Point presentation with ample time for question and answer as well as refreshments (including Coke?!?!). I took my "WLS for Dummies" book and a recipe book that I had purchased from amazon.com. I am glad that I went, I am pretty sure that I want to have surgery. I just have to convince my husband that this is the right choice for me.
5.12.06 - Meet with PCP to request letter of medical necessity. My PCP is a few years younger than me (I am 34!) and very much on board with any medical procedure that increases the quality of one's life. He is fully supportive and has the letter completed within 1.5 weeks (and charges me $55 for it!).
5.30.2006 - DH and I went to my surgicical consult appointment at AGH. I saw Dr. W again, which was fine, but I wanted to meet Dr. C. I had read a couple comments about Williams being a little flat, but I am married to a PhD research chemical engineer, his manner was pretty much what I was used to, LOL. DH asked some questions, we talked a lot and I requested to meet Dr. C. I was so happy to meet him, he started off by saying "I am here for as long as you need me... now what are your questions?" He turned to my dh and said "Dr. Williams said you're an engineer, engineers always have the best questions. I took that to mean that Dr. W warned Dr. C, 'we have a hard-sell in that room.' Dr. C was fantastic about answer all of our questions. Especially dh's. He took a lot of time to tell us how he became involved in bariatric surgery and I could tell that he was trying to help my husband to understand obesity and what it does to a person. After this meeting, I start making my calls and attending a lot of appointments in a row.
6.8.06 - appointment for psychological clearance.
6.9.06 - appointment for pulmonary clearance.
6.14.06 - appointment for cardiology clearance.
6.21.06 - return to cariology office for Echo, they didn't have a tech to do this on the 14th. Right now, my husband still isn't totally into this all. He. Just. Doesn't. Understand. I have got to the point where I decided that I don't need his approval, just his support, which are two different things. He'll support me, I don't think he'll ever approve of this, but he loves me and will do what he can. I think I need to be happy with what he can offer, sometimes I can ask too much and this may be one of those times. You can't make a 175 pound man understand what it is like to have been fat for 30 years.
6.26.06 - start process for preservice review with Blue Cross/Blue Shield's Federal Employee Plan.
6.28.06 - appointment with nutritionist.
7.13.06 - received approval from insurance company (BCBS - Federal Employee Plan)
7.27.06 - attend bariatric class, run by my surgeon's group.
7.28.06 - History/Physical appointment with Nurse Practitioner, blood tests, chest x-ray and ECG; surgery date scheduled for 8.4.06.
7.31.06 - surgeon's office called to say that surgery would be moved to 8.11.06. The next day, I found out that this wasn't a scheduling snafoo, this was because the doctor wanted to be sure that I had recovered from the ectopic pregnancy that I had been diagnosed with on 6.26.06. Within a few days, we discovered that my hCG levels were still present (24). My gynecologist cleared me, stating that my treatment was complete. But, my surgeon decided it would be best to wait until September. I have a new surgery date. 9.13.06.
8.8.06 - I have possibly hit another road block. After dealing with pelvic pain for six weeks, I called my doctor (gynecologist) and had an ultrasound. Turns out, the ectopic wasn't completely healed, so I had surgery at Magee to remove it. It was done laparoscopically, under general anestesia and things went really well. I have one incision in my belly button and two more very low on my pelvis. I'll see my gyn on the 22nd, then she'll talk with Dr. Colella and he'll decide if we will go ahead with the September 13th date or not. I am hopeful that we can keep that date, but not too optimistic about it.
9.13.06 - Surgery! Everything went really well. I had laparascopic surgery, with 5 incisions plus a drain. I stayed in the hospital for 3 nights.
10.13.06 - So far, I have not had any complications or food aversions. No vomitting. I have lost 33 pounds and I am so glad that I have made this decision!