Melissa B.
8th Anniversary
Jan 17, 2011
Wow! I can't believe it has been 8 years! I am still around the weight I got to after my surgery. I am at 187lb! Back in June of 2010 I started working out more consistantly then ever before in my life. My husband is really the power behind our making it to the gym. In the last 8 months he has lost 110 lbs!! I am eating better and feeling better.
Can't stress enough how much better a person feels when they exercise.
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Can't stress enough how much better a person feels when they exercise.
My Journey
Jan 17, 2011
Starting Weight 267 lbs - Height 5'2"
July 12, 2002 - Friday
I just recently started seriously considering this surgery, though I have been aware of the procedure for ten to fifteen years. A good friend from college and my sister both had this surgery a decade ago. I guess I hadn't spent much time thinking about it in regards to myself. I have pondered if for myself some over the last year, but it didn't seem possible, not even a real option. But since late last week it seems I can think of little else. My sisters are encouraging! What they have to say and what I have found out on the WEB confirms that my insurance will cover this surgery.
My health has gotten increasingly worse over the last 5 years. High blood pressure (that has raged out of control even medicated), a herniated disk in my back, constant back issues for that last 10 years (at least), I fatigue very easily, get winded easily and get heart palpitations if I exert myself very much. I have tried so many different things.... I have done Weight Watchers, Scarsdale, Atkin, Optifast (medically supervised), Phen-Phen, Meridia... Medifast.... various and assorted natural supplement too many to remember, let alone list.... I have not succeeded. I have 4 sisters... we are all morbidly obese... I have aunts that are as well..... I am not going to succeed without help. I already know that the surgery works... I have some concerns (or maybe just the nature disbelief that it will REALLY work for me)... but logically I know that it will. August 6, 2002 - Tuesday
I've just returned from a week long vacation. It was a Lake vacation. The water was great!! But, the feeling when you walk out of the lake and your legs and feet start to feel the weight of your body coming back was awful. Never before had I noticed it just that way! I am so glad that I am on the path to finally do something about this weight!!
Just before I left on vacation I got a call from O'Rourke's office. She asked about my insurance which is Health-One and she told me that there were some recent changes to their policy. For this surgery they now require an independent psyche eval. I can't use the one that O'Rourke's office will give. They also told me that I need to have TSH blood work done by my primary care doctor and then I need a letter written up by him, Dr. Adler, stating that my obesity is NOT due to an endocrin problem. So I called my insurance company to figure out if the psyche evaluation is something that, being medically requested, needs to be administered out of the insurance company or out of our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) which is run by Claremont, which takes care of 'all our mental health needs'.. I am hoping to have an answer on that soon. I called yesterday again. Also I called Dr Adler and requested the blood work. He will send the order to a lab tomorrow and I'll get that work done Thursday. NOW.. .O'Rourke's office won't set up a consultation until I have the blood work, letter from my doctor, AND the independent psyche evaluation done! ::sighs:: SOoooo..... I think that once I have appointment set up for the psyche eval I'll call them and tell them I am ready to set up the consultation. This is moving pretty slow at this moment.
August 23, 2002
Friday
Things are moving again!! Horray! It took a long time for the insurance company to figure out 'who' should refer out my psyche eval. Final result was, as it was medically requested that the insurance company would administer it... not Claremont, which administers all our mental health stuff. (They are partnered with One Health). ANYWAY... I have scheduled my psyche evaluation. That'll be September 10. ALRIGHT!! I have my consultation set up for September 24th. And Barb at Fisher's office is setting up my nutrition thing for NEXT week!! I see my primary care Dr. on September 18th... and can ask for an eco-cardiogram and a ultrasound of my gallbladder. And GASP.. I have almost everything taken care of AMAZING. This is moving along good!! I have shifted from Dr. O'Rourke to Dr. Fisher.. who does the Laparoscopic RNY procedure!!
I am actually beginning to feel like this might happen. I've begun to think about the things I'd like to do once I am well on my way to loosing the weight. One of the things I thought alot about is ice skating. Will be nice to be able to do that again. :o) The thought of being able to keep on top of the work at home and in the yard... AND having the energy for work and fun... is exciting.
One step at a time.
September 22, 2002
Sunday
Well.. .this is my week. I have my consultation and nutrition class this week. My primary care doctor, Dr. Adler, has ordered the gall bladder ultrasound and my echocardiogram. They are scheduled on October 3rd. I will have all of my needed 'pre work' done by October 3rd. I am hoping for a paperwork review on the 10th of October!! So far things have been moving along very smoothly. We'll see how this week goes!!
September 26, 2002
Tuesday
Today was my consultation with Dr. Fisher and my nutrition evaluation. They both went very well. I like Dr. Fisher. He made me feel very comfortable and answered all the questions I had for him. My nutrition review also went well. I got lots of information about things I should do to get ready for after surgery. Learning to not drink when I eat... and starting to practice eating at regular intervals. And then to start practicing not drinking 1/2 hour before and after eating. She told me that I will be eating pureed food for a couple months... and that I should stock up some on baby food that I might like. She also talked about how you get to 1/4 c. of food at 3 months, 1/2 c. of food by 6 months, 3/4 c. by 9 months, and 1 c. by 1 year. There is lots to think about and explore as to why I've used food to comfort myself. Also family dynamics to think about. Too much to ponder today.
November 14, 2002
Thursday
WOO-HOO.. I have insurance approval. Submitted to insurance on the 1st of November and approved on the 12th!! Not too bad!! I meet with Dr. Fisher on November 26th and then we'll set my surgery date. I'll be glad to have that date! Trying to get a plan in mind of how to proceed is much easier when you are working towards a specific date!!
November 2, 2002
Saturday
All preliminary work is done now and all data has been sent out to the insurance company for approval yesterday. My surgery date will be some time in January. I am bummed as I was hoping for late November or early December. :o( There is a reason for everything so now I just wait patiently. I should have insurance approval in about a week. Can't wait to know when the date actually is.
November 26, 2002
Tuesday
Alright!! I have a surgery date! I am scheduled for January 15th, 2003. Only about 6 weeks away. It is great to have a date. Now I can schedule out what I need to get done before surgery at work and home. Doctor says I need to either maintain my weight as it is or lose before my surgery date!! I think I can do that!!
January 7, 2003
Tuesday
The weeks have been flying by. I've been doing the best I can on my eating in an attempt to at least maintain my weight. I am worried that I'll be up. Will be glad to get through Pre0p and know that there are no issues. Two days from now.. at this time I'll feel MUCH better as my PreOp appt will be over. I've gotten my workload pretty much worked through so I can be out of work for a couple weeks. Have organized myself at home some.. now I need only to do some shopping for popsicles and the like before I go into the hospital. Am not getting too nervous, just want to be on the other side... and it'll be soon!
January 11, 2003
Saturday
Well my PreOp went fine!! What a relief!! Only a few more days now. I am more excited then I am worried or scared. Will be glad to be on the losing side!!
January 31, 2003
Friday
Hello all!! I am doing just fine!! My surgery went off without any problems. My pain level never was very high, which I am glad for. My stay in the hospital was extended some (8 days), not sure why, am thinking it was cuz my bowels took a long time to wake up and my oxygen wasn't as high as it should be. I am home now and feeling pretty good. Yesterday was my 2 week checkup... I am down 19 lbs already!! Seems very amazing!! I am going back to work 1/2 days (or less) starting on Monday, so that is good. The journey begins. :o)
March 15, 2003
Saturday
Hello again. Gosh... it was a bad few weeks here. Just finally starting to feel better. Ended up having bad issues with my blood pressure medicine. I am now off of the meds and feeling better. Just getting over a cold now. My surgery seemed to heal without problems.. but the over medication on my medicines made it very hard for me to eat or drink. Just starting to be able to eat some now. I am not getting enough fluids, but I am working hard at it. I am now 2 months post-op and I am down 47lbs. :o) I am finally back to work full time and I walked a mile at lunch time Thursday and Friday. It was GREAT!!
Even being sick so long... I still feel the surgery was worth it!
April 16, 2003
Wednesday
Gosh.. again it's been a while. I am finally getting over a cold and I am definitely feeling better. Seems I have been fighting feeling sick for a while... but I am at last coming out on the other side!! Hooray!! I am down 51 pounds. Seems I have been hanging at about 50 lbs for awhile.. most of the time I've been sick... but about a week ago I starting going down again... 16 lbs more until 200 lbs... that it a number I am looking forward to being down to... I'll be so glad to break the 200 mark (never to see it again!!)
May 31, 2003
Saturday
I have been busy working in my yard. The ability to do this alone has made this surgery worth it!! I am down below 200!! Woo-hoo!! I am about about 196!! How wonderful it is to be able to do all the gardening that I want!!!
July 15, 2003
Tuesday
Wow!! 6 months already!! Amazing!! I am down to about 187.. almost 80 lbs from when I started!! Things are going good. I am feeling much better. Working hard on the house... am starting school in the fall... going for my MBA!! Still hoping to get on my bike soon... seems I spend all my spare time working on the house. It's wonderful to be able to get things done!!
January 15, 2004 - Thursday - 175 lbs.
Oh my gosh!! It's been one year today. I can't believe it. In some ways it truly feels like a lifetime ago that I got this surgery done. I am feeling so much better. I am down to one blood pressure medicine and can complete nearly every project I start in a reasonable amount of time. I've completed one semester of my MBA not with the best grades I've ever received. I am working full time and going to school full time, something I couldn't of imagined being able to do a year ago.
It's like being given a second chance at life!! I am SOOoo glad I did this surgery... no matter how rough the first couple of months were... they have quickly faded.
June 10, 2004 - Thursday - 180 lbs
I'm up a little. Has been a pretty steady 6 months. I've remained within a 5 lbs range, however, I am still not at the goal I want to be. Weight loss has slowed considerably, and truely I am at the point in my journey that if I really want to hit my goal I am going to have to work at the exercise and monitoring more closely my food choices.
Pretty much I am able to eat anything that I want. Believe me, there are advantages and disadvantages to this. It is nice to be able to taste anything I like, however, I have found that the 'junk' type found digests faster and this isn't a good thing. Fortunately, I guess, the bypass helps with what you can absorb into you system, so that definitely is a good thing.
I continue to have some back problems (most having little to do with my weight), but at this point I am at least able to perform the exercises needed to make that better. I've joined a gym and am hoping that we help to strengthen my back. That is the main intent in joining the gym (no real plan aimed at weight loss), though I am hoping it'll be a pleasant side effect.
My goal is 140. That is about 40 lbs away. Gah!! I am pretty sure if I focus I'll get there.
Remember the surgery is a jump start and helps you maintain, but to really get to your final goal you are going to have to work at it. I'll try to post more often.
Photos
 265 lb Before - Summer of 2002 |
 |
 175 lb 11 months Post Op |
About Me
Colorado Springs, CO
Location
32.0
BMI
Surgery
01/15/2003
Surgery Date
Jul 10, 2002
Member Since