monkey-dee
9/10/05: Really nervous that I am not going to be approved. They, UHC, told me that I have to prove I have been morbidly obese for the past five years, which brings me to 2000. I lost a lot of weight so I could get pregnant and eight wees after I delivered (2000) I got pregnant again with my second child and had her in 2001. So I don't know how they are going to feel about all of this. I have my consult this Thu with Dr Kini. That's the other thing....my ins has hardly any in network surgeons that preform WLS :( But he seems great so far, we'll see after I chat with him :) I hate this ins.....I hope I can get approved!!!
9/18/05: Well I had my consult with Dr Kini. He is amazing. He made me feel so much better about everything. He answered all of my questions and didn't make me feel bad asking about all of them :) I also met with Mr Booker who gave me hope that my insurance will approve....I hope!!! I have scheduled all my evaluations over the next two weeks. I hope after all this I do get approved.
9/19/05: Today I went or the Psych Evaluation with my own psychiatrist from Good Sam Hospital. He was pleased that I was thinking about this and was more than happy to help out. He wouldn't however count the behavioral therapy an Topomax I was on while seeing him as a medically supervised diet....so this concerns me a bit for the approval. He has actually knew why I came because Dr Kini's office had already notified him! He said he'd have everything together for me in a week. Then I went and got my blood work. They said Dr Kini would have it in 3-4 days :)
9/23/05: Ok so I had my Nutritionist Evaluation yesturday with Amy at Mt Sini and it we it great. A lot of detailed information and great packet she gave me. Also gave me some samples of the Carnation protien shake. She was really interested in what I had to say and answered my questions well. She seemed really nice and I am happy I decided to go to her. I told her about the 5 yrs of proof of obesity and she was very surprised that they required such a thing. My iron was a bit low and my white cells were a bit elevated but she wasn't majorly concerned at this time......I couldn't believe she had the blood results already! After that I went downstairs and got my ultrasound done. All my parts are healthy and working and they said Dr Kini would have the results in 3-4 days (even though he is right upstairs haha) Everyone has been really great so far! Then tonight I got my letter from my PCP to give to Dr Kini. I had them fax it over and then they also put it in the mail. now all I have left is my upper endoscopy (yuck!) next Wed. :-) Things are moving along nice....I hope they approve!! So far so good....
9/28/05: I went and had my upper GI today at Digestive Disease Associates in Pomona. I was REALLY nervous about it so I am writing all about it.........I was SO nervous because I have a very difficult time giving blood let alone stiking an IV in me. When I was in labor for my child they had to take blood from behind my leg that is how difficilt my arms are. The vein collapse and are very difficult to find in the first place. They were WONDERFUL though!! Sh efound a place for the IV on top of my habd no problem. Dr. Shah was very pleasant. I was not put under but given Demerol. It was suppose to be a calmin effect but I barly remember a thing and it was so easy I could do it every week if I had too hahaha! I was feeling fine by 1pm and I had it at 10:30a Dr. Shah said my stomach had irritation and I was to take Prevacid. The results should be to Dr Kini in 4 days. (the biopsy results). Yippee! That was my last test!! Also I gave Nurse Nalle an email heads up that she sould have everything else by now. She said she did and that the PCP letter and Psych Eval were fine for submission and I shouldn't need any further proof....gym letter etc..
9/30/05: Fonda called me today just to check in. She said she has everything but the GI results and I explained I just had that done. She took the doctor's info and was going to put a bit a pressure on them. She was please how quick I did everything and said she would give a call back whne it was time to submit. I thought it was really nice of her to call and I was happy to hear her voice.
10/4/05: I got a call today from the GI doctor office. They got my results back of the biopsy and I do have that bacteria, the H poly something one haha....Anyhow, I am going to have to go on meds for 10 days and then get another test taken 30 days after I'm off the meds to make sure it's all cleared up. That brings surgery to Dec the earliest :-( I called Dr Kini's ofice and they have everything they need and they are reviewing it. But at least I have all the results and now they can put in for approval....wait wait wait...
10/10/05: The meds that I am on for the h. pylori are making me so sick!! They are giving me really bad migraines and I have to go to the bathroom all the time!! But the Dr. said I have to take them! Oh well,t's worth it. I called Fonda today to see how things are moving along. They have all my results I'm just waiting for them to submit to the paperwork to the insurance company. So far they haven't but she hopes to by next week. I hope so...I can't stand waiting to find out if they will approve.
10/19/05: Today I got a call from Fonda at Dr Kini's office and she wanted to schedule my surgery for Nov. 4th!! I was sooo excited but I had to be honset with her and remind her that my breath test to see if i still have the h. pylori is not until Nov. 22nd but the 8th is when I should have went to back to get tested but they didn't have any appointment so I had to wait for one. She had me hold on and told me that she would like to schedule me for the 17th. :) So I have the date but everything still has to be reviewed by the insurance.....so NERVOUS.......don't want to get too excited yet but........yippee!!! I love Fonda she has been so nice!!
10/28/05: Uggg...Ok I got a call from Fonda Tuesday while I was at home. She was looking over my paper work getting ready to fax everything over to the ins. company and noticed that the PCP letter did not have any weights and dates. I explained that was my initial concern about this whole thing!!! And I had brought it up to EVERYONE at the office. And everyone told me not to worry that UHC was easy and that I was lucky because any other ins. company I wouldn't have a chance with. My PCP NEVER takes weights!! She urged me to call them and my ob/gyn to get a list of dates and weights as far back as they could go typed up on letterhead and faxed over to her asap. So I called my PCP and they have five weights on me from the past six years....not very good. My ob/gyn had many more because that's all he does is weigh me haha. So by now she should have the information. I will call Monday to make sure.......but this has been very frustrating! I hope after all this I don't get denied :(
11/2/05: I called UHC for the heck of it to see if they got anything. To my surprise everything was in review and they told me a RN had look at it today. They told me I should hear something within the next two weeks :) 10/31/05: Fonda caled me and left me a message that my date has been moved to the 18th.............no biggie. She said she would call if she heard anything fromthe ins. wait wait wait.......
11/3/05: I GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fonda called me today very excited and told me I was approved!! I can't believe it! I am sooo nervous now that all of this is real!! I have to got for my pre-op visit with Nurse Nalle on 11/8 and then I go in for surgery on the 18th. I can't believe this is really happening!!
11/8/05: Today was Pre-Op day :-) I was so nervous and excited. I made sure to write all my questions down so I wouldn't forget them. Jen was really nice and answered all my questions with ease. She made me feel better, well more knowledgable, about going into this. I did gain 3 lbs since last time I was there so she made it clear to me that I had to lose those three plus whatever else I could lose inthe next 10days. Then I went for my blood work, EKG, and chest xray. And if everything turns out alright I will be there the 18th for surgery. Everyone was sooo nice!! Very different from my local hospital!! Almost there!!!!!!!! :)
11/11/05:
Jen called yesturday and told me that I had to give more blood. Something was wrong when they typed and crossed it with the blood bank. So I went today and gave more blood :( I hate giving blood!!
11/12/05:
Everything is good! My blood was fine, it just turned out that theydidn't have enough to match it up the riht way :)
11/16/05: First day of my liquid diet. I'm glad I only have to do this for two days!! I had to make the kids dinner.....I nver wanted a bowl of spaghetti so bad hahaha!!!
11/17/05: Ok the night before!!!!!!!!!!! Can't believe it is tomorrow!!! I'll write when I'm back!!
12/3/05: YEAH I DID IT!!!!!!!!
I had my sugery on the 18th and everything went great!!
Before surgery I got down to 220......but the day I wen home I was 240 from water and swelling...haha
Everyone at the hospital, Mt Sinai, was SO WONDERFUL!! I have never met so many nice people!! Every single person was polite caring and courtious!! Shocking!!!!!
I went home feeling pretty good considering but then about the second day home I started to get really sick.
It was the holidays and a bit difficult to get through to anyone so the on call told me to go to the ER. I did cause I was extremely nausaus and not able to get fluids in me. They fixed me right up though :)
After coming home and starting my Prevacid again I have felt WONDERFUL!! If it wasn't for the little aches and pains in my abdomin I wouldn't even think that I had surgery!!
So today is day 15 and I am getting about 50 oz noncaloric fluids and about 50g protein which is pretty close to what the dietician wanted. :) I'm proud of myself!!
As of today I weigh 222 :)
12/7/05:
19 DAYS POST OP AND 19LBS DOWN!! Feelin great! Went back to work today.....my tummy is sore but my new pouch is great!! I am VERY HAPPY!!!
12/13/05:
Today was my first "stuck food" experience...AND I HOPE FOR IT TO BE MY LAST!!!
I was eating shrimp and I accidently swallowed and the shrip wasn't chewed well, and oh boy did my body know it!!
WARNING :: GROSS::
I started haveing pain in my new tummy and in my chest. Soon after I started vomiting foam...YUCK!! I waited and hour and it seemed to be getting worse. I called my RN and while waiting for her response looked up as much as I could about what I was expereincing. My weight loss sugery book indicated that something wsa stuck and to drink some meat tenderizer. Sooon after the RN called and she said to do the same and that it may go down or come up hopefully soo after I drank that. GROSS !!! But the taste was so bad it made me throw up and I felt SO MUCH BETTER!!
Needless to say I will be much more careful from now on!!!!!!
25 days post op and 21lbs down :)
12/20/05:
Yesturday I had my one month post-op visit with my doctor and dietician.
I met with Amy first and she weiged me....apparently my scale is off because that morning I weighed myself at home as 215 and her scale said 209 YIPPEE!! I know I should hover the scale but seeing those numbers go down mean so much to me. I was very happy and so was she.
I have went from a bmi of 43.4 to 38.3........I have dropped a whole category in a month :)
And I have lost 28lbs :)
Anyhow we went on to talk about my new diet and new vitamins.
Then I went to see Fonda, Dr. Kini and Jen Nalle.....they were all very happy with the weight loss and as pleasant as ever :)
My incisions have healed very well....I can start more vigours excersise program in two weeks.....and I need to go back in two months......by that time Dr Kini said I probably have dropped another 20-30lbs more !!
He and I chated a bit and he said in the end with nutrition and excersise I should be in a range of 25 bmi to be normal which would bring me to a weight of 136.........which would be amazing cause i haven't been that since junior high haha!!
It was a great visit!
2006
1/13/06:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today I am 8 wks post op. Since I have seen Dr Kini I have started to lose a bit slower....but that's okay because I am starting to work out more now that I am farther post op :) My weight has went up and down a bit even though I have been getting in my waters and proteins but I really think it's because my period is so out of wack.....I skipped a month and just got it and I have lost 6lbs in two days.
I'm feeling GREAT!! I have so much more energy!!! I'm never hungry!! I really am enjoying this part but I know it will be harder in the future as my appitite comes back ....but I'm sure I'll be fine :)
Even though as of today I have lost 34lbs I have not yet went down a size.....probably because I have been squeezing into sizes that are too small for me hahaha! But I FEEL the weight loss and others an see it.....I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CHOICE I MADE STILL!!!!!!!!!
2/17/06
I had my 3 month post op visit this past Monday. I am now down to 193 :) A total of 44lbs and 16lbs since my last visit.
I was hoping to make it to at least another 20lbs down instead, but I hadn't been to the gym as much as I would have liked because of a promotions I got at woek keeping me busy and it was also TOM :) But I am very happy with the lost.
I STILL HAVEN'T lost a clothing size but my clothes are fitting better or are loose, so that is a plus. I am very happy I have gotten under 200 :) yippie!!
The visit itself went well and not too much to report. Dr Kini, Fonda, Jen , and Amy were all wonderful as usual!!! Very helpful!
3/8/06:
I am losing about 1 lb a week .....down to 190. I can't be upset because i still haven't made it to the gyn :( I don't think I've ever worked this much in my life!! But I have o figure out something soon because my health need to come first!! Dr. did say even if I lost 5 lbs a month that would be fine....so I guess I am still ok for now.
3/29/06:
Life has been busy and it has been a challenge to keep up with the protein and fluid intake but I have myself very much aware of what I am and what I am not doing :)
Weightloss has been good, I am at 184 now :) I am very happy with that. I had a mini goal to be at 180 by Easter and I think I will make it. The next minigoal was to be at 170 by my birthday which is soon. I hope to make that also :) But it's going to take some work.I haven't made it to the gym but I have been walking alot!!1 So that helps!
4/14/06: Easter is this Sunday and I have made my goal of 180 by Easter !!! :) I doubt I'll reach my goal of 170 by mt birthday in 2 weeks but who knows :) Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!
5/24/06 Feelin wonderful! Actually made my birthday goal of 170 :) Dr. says I am doing great and where I should be...I'm 166lbs today and very happy! I think I said that already!!! :)
6/13/06
162 and officially over weight and NOT obese :) Weight coming off slower but still comingoff non-the less. Feelin good :) Have gone from a size 22 to 14/16.....happy about that too :)
7/11/06
The summer has been treating me well. I'm now 157, down 80lbs! I have lost more than the 70% that most are expected to lose and I am so happy! I wear and 14/12 in all my clothes now and I feel great! And although I look like a melted candle underneath my clothes I still love my body :) My goal was to be at 135 by my November anniversary, that's 22lbs away. On here when I do the Weight Loss Plan it says my ideal weight is 126 which would mean I would need to lose 31lbs more. I would be very happy if I made it to 140 to be quite honest! I haven't been 140 since junior high!!!!! But the numbers don't matter becasue I feel great and in control for once in my life. I actullay feel that if the surgery wer to be taken away at this point I would beable to continue my life as discipline as I am now, which is the best feeling in the world for me since I have gone through so much over the years with my weight.
I do get hungry now but I have such a routine of eating that it's not that bad or often. I'll usually drink some crystal light to make sure it's hunger and not thrist and then eat appropriatly if my body says I need to.
I've been really excited about exercise since the nice weather is here. I have been taking advantage of that, have gotten back to the gym to oddly enough walk on the treadmill...lol I like it though cause I can watch tv there while walking and there are no kids to bother me lol....and I bought a yoga ball adn the Core Secrets with Gunnar Peterson...I really like the workout and it is something new to do. I still have my pilates workout also if I start to get bored with the ball and what not.
I love this site. It really helps to come here and see how others are feeling and doing. Especially since the only person in my life knows about my surgery is my ex. Yes, I'm pulling a Star Jones, BUT (and I don't know much about her situation) I have never lied about the weightloss....but since I was the size I am right now several times in my life before people don't question me ....they are just expecting me to gain it all back hahaha....which I know is possible but I won't let that happen!!!!!!
This surgery was a gift from God for me! I thank in my heart the doctors and nurses and nutritionist everyday and the insurance company for approving it!!!!! I feel like I have a life and it's not controlled by food (well not in a bad way at least cause I think about what I'm eating now before I eat it hahaha)