Joyce F.
I am 54 years old, 5'4", 237#, BMI 4l. It was so hard to read that I am morbidly obese. I have known for sometime I was overweight...but (morbidly)obese? Never thought those words would describe me. I have been on every diet that's available. I am married to a wonderful guy who says he doesn't care what size I am, he loves me. But he wants me to be healthly and if this surgery will help me feel better, he's all for it. We have motorcycles and he loves to ride. Lately, its been hard for me to get on and off his bike when I ride as his passenger. I have no trouble on mine, but I sure would like to fit behind him better!Anyway, I have my initial consultation with Dr. Warnock on April 9, 2002...I am hoping he will find me a suitable candidate for the surgery. I am a little apprehensive about surgery though. But I know it is what I will have to do to feel better and live a better life.
3/29/02 Called my insurance company to see if there was an exlusion of any kind on weight loss surgery. The young man I talked to (Nicco) said my question was too "broad". How "broad" is, "Is there an exclusion in my policy for weight loss surgery?"? After a few minutes of discussion I hung up with the impression that as long as my doctor sends them a letter stating that the surgery is a medical necessity, it will be up to a review board to decide. So much for trying to get ahead of the game.
4/1/02 Spent the weekend with my mother and sister and had a really good time. I told Mom about this surgery and she reacted quite well. I was expecting her to tell me that I don't need to have surgery because I can lose the weight like I have done in the past. But we had a nice discussion and she said that it was my decision and my life, just to make sure I know what I am getting into and do what it takes to make it work. Mom did tell me about a dream she had the night before I arrived. She dreamed that my father was there (he died almost 4 years ago, suddenly and unexpectedly). In this dream she asked him if he was staying or if he had to go back. This is what he replied, "I have to go back and Joyce is going with me."
4/6/02 Ok, I am gettng nervous about seeing the surgeon on Tuesday. If I am nervous about just talking to him, what am I gonna be like when I go into surgery (noticed the positive thinking here..when, not if)?? But I am also excited. I have to make a confession (even if it is just on here and no one will probably see it but me)...I want this surgery so I can look good...that isn't the only reason, but it IS one of them. I am tired of looking in the mirror and being disgusted at what I see. Whew, now I feel better...had some guilt about feeling that way.
4/9/02 Saw Dr. Warnock this afternoon and it looks like all I need to do now is call Debbie at his office tomorrow and set everything up. I only weighed 233 on his scales. I sure don't know where those 4 pounds went, because all I have done for the last 2 months is eat!
4/10/02 How stupid was I to think that I could just dial up the doctor's office, talk to Debbie and get everything done today? I need to get some patience because I have a feeling this isn't going to be as easy as I thought! I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! Dear Lord, please help me! ~~~~~~~~~Update: Finally got ahold of Debbie in Dr's office...she was really nice, and I was nice (got to kiss up sometimes). My letter of medical necessity is gonna have to be mailed because my insurance doesn't accept faxed anything...geesh! So, I guess I will have about a month's wait.
4/18/02 Well, I couldn't wait any longer. I had to call the doctor's office today just to check and see if Debbie has mailed my letter of necessity...voice mail is what I get...left a bright and cheery message and I KNOW I WON"T GET A CALL BACK! I will call tomorrow then! Why oh why can't I just be a patient person?~~~~WOW!! I did get that call back and my papers have been mailed to the insurance company (Tuesday) So, Debbie says maybe an end of May date. Only thing, my in-laws have this big party the first weekend in June every year and I am at odds at what to do...have it before or after? Oh well, let's just wait and see how long the insurance company takes to decide whether I am worthy of the surgery or not. Wait, wait, wait...I am getting really good at being patient....NOT!
4/23/02 Called the insurance company yesterday, got good ole Nicco again, and was told that my papers have been received (on the 19th) and it would be between 1 and 3 weeks until a decision is made. I will receive something in the mail. Got Nicco to laugh (finally) when I asked if he could tell the review board (or whoever is deciding my fate) to Hurry UP! Found out the letter is a letter of pre-determination instead of medical necessity...Nicco was kind enough to explain the difference, since he's the one who told me to begin with that I would need a letter of medical necessity.
4/27/02 I gotta quit smoking! I was doing so good until last night. Maybe I should try some patches?!
4/29/02 Called insurance company...more waiting. Good thing this isn't emergency surgery. I would be dead already. Patience, patience. I am going to go see Donna Steiner tomorrow.
5/6/02 OK, I am approved. Called doctor's office and tried to get a definite date for surgery. Naturally, there is a problem. Her "system" says she needs a referral from my PCP before she can schedule my appointment with the pulmonologist. SHE DOES NOT! I don't have a PCP. My plan was changed January 2002 and I can choose whatever doctor I want as long as he is in the network (or out of it for that matter, just according to how much I want to pay). I explain this to her and she says she can't schedule anything till she gets this changed in the computer (and that requires going across the hall and telling the cashier). Wonder how many days that will take??? Now, tell me, WHY couldn't she schedule the appointment and THEN get the information changed? HUH?! But she did tell me before we got into that conversation that my surgery would be in June...like the middle of June...I can live with that.
5/7/02 I have a date!! Wednesday, June 5, 2002. So much to do now. Gotta clean my house really really good, because my mother is coming to stay with me. Hubby needs to get vacation. Wow, I am numb!
5/8/02 A few things I am going through today...wondering if I will be one of the few who have complications...hoping I won't...wondering what my husband, children and grandchildren will do without me if I am...getting teary eyed whenever I think of my wonderful, sweet loving husband...trying to figure out the right words to let him know what he means to me...feelings of excitment, nerves, numbness and thoughts of what in the world am I doing?...reassuring myself this is the only way you will ever be happy and healthy...worrying that my mother's dream might be a premonition. So, on with the rest of the day and coping with these feelings and thoughts until I am on the other side of this journey.
5/29/02 Bummer day for me. Went for my pre-op testing. Dr. Harvey, the pulmonologist found something he didn't like on my chest x-ray, so now I have to go have a chest CAT SCAN tomorrow. Then I have to see a cardiologist Friday for an Echocardiograph. My surgery is supposed to be next Wednesday 6/5/02. Had to cancel appointment with Dr. Warnock because of all this. Rescheduled for June 4. I have a headache, a tooth-ache, threw up this morning after taking all my meds for all this stuff wrong with me! Stress, what is that???!!! I sure hope this doesn't stop my surgery! On the brighter side ~~~ I haven't gained a pound since April 9, even after stuffing my face all day every day since!
6/03/02 Well, tests are done and I will be going to surgery as scheduled, Wednesday, June 5. Can't wait.
6/11/02 Guess I will update this profile one more time. I had my surgery on 6/5/02, got home on 6/10/02. Surgery went well, no complications, pain was bearable. As of now, I would NOT do this again. I thought I had learned so much about WLS that I was ready. What I wasn't ready for I think, was MAJOR surgery. Maybe my opinion will change in time...but I doubt it.
7/11/02 I've lost 44 pounds. Started out at 239.5, now at 195. Still would not do this over if I had to. Things are getting a little better. I have no appetite and find it very hard to find anything that I want to eat. Love my water though.
8/02/02 Well, I have only lost 34.5 pounds. The 44 pounds was by my scale at home...how pitiful is that? Almost 2 months out. I coulda done that by just dieting...my doctor is probably gonna chew my butt out when I go to see him August 12. Oh well.
8/26/02 I was right, Dr. W was not happy with me at all. My weight loss is on schedule..40 pounds gone by his scales. But my eating habits leave much to be desired, as well as my exercise routine, which is non-existant. Ok, gotta start the Walk Away the Pounds video workout I got the other day. Still having problems finding anything I like or that tastes good. If it tastes good its not good for me...but hasn't that always been the case and isn't that how I got so fat in the first place?! Dr W offered to dilate my pouch to make it bigger because I told him I was very unhappy with my decision to have the surgery and did not think I would ever be happy with it. He said everyone feels that way the first six months and to give it time. Ok, I will. He also offered to go back in and put everything back the way it was. I think that was just a tactic to scare me...Cuz no way am I gonna let him open my belly up again! OH, and he called me his problem child...HMPH!
10/18/02 I'm down 64 pounds now. Bought a size 14 jeans and they fit...never mind that I had to lay down on the bed to zip them up! Things are getting better for me, am finally coming to terms with the surgery. Maybe because I can see a difference now and I actually feel much better. I can eat more and things are tasting decent. Started an exercise program at Curves for Women and I do believe it is helping.
11/06/02 Well, I found the secret to getting in a size 14 jean...Buy the ones with a little spandex in them. I am now down 70 pounds and feeling good. Can't get used to buying smaller clothes. My husband went shopping with me the other day and I kept picking up XL stuff, he would tell me to get the large and try it on...son of a gun, the large fit! He's so smart! Shoot, I still go the the plus department before I realize I can't wear any of those sizes anymore...so I'm down from 22/24 to L/14...look out 12s here I come!! I will be 55 Saturday...whoa, a senior citizen!
11/22/02 Life is good. I now weigh 166, that's a 74 lb loss. I am feeling better and doing more. Got my new picture up and there sure is a difference in the way I look. I can wear 14s, down from a 22/24.
12/15/02 I guess everyone was right...it does get better. Six and one-half months ago you couldn't have made me believe that. I now weigh 162 (78 pounds gone). According to the weight loss chart on this site, I am where I should be in February. Bought me some size 10 and 12 jeans. No laying down on the bed to zip them up and no problem breathing with them on. I like what I see in the mirror now. I feel so much better. Still don't care much about eating, just eat to live. I can eat more now and food tastes much better.
01/04/03 Down 87 pounds to 153. Only 13 more pounds to my personal goal of 140. Husband says I should stop right now. Wearing size 10 and feeling much better.
02/25/03 I now weigh 148.5. Having trouble remembering to take my vitamins twice a day. Trying to get protein from foods I eat because I cannot tolerate any kind of protein supplement. I bet I've spent 500 dollars on that stuff. My size 10 jeans are getting loose. Everyone keeps telling me I am skinny enough and that I don't need to lose any more weight. How can you be skinny enough? I still weigh 23 pounds more than my "ideal" weight. But, if I never lost another pound, I would be happy. I still would not do this again, but at least now I am happy that I did it.
03/28/03 I finally lost 2 pounds, now down to 146.5. Just 6.5 more pounds till I reach the century mark. Maybe by my 1st anniversary I will do it, I hope, I hope! I have been reading all about sagging skin, drooping boobs and wrinkles. Well, at 55 years, I expect to have all that, but, with this weight loss I think I have extra...LOL My husband says I am sexy and beautiful, so that's all I need to feel good about the way I look. I am healthier and happier than I have been for 25 years.
04/02/03 In 2 days I will be 10 months out from my Open RNY. I went to the GYN today and when I stepped on the scale I almost had a heart attack!! Now, I had my jeans, sweater and shoes on and still weighed in at 137.5...YEE HAWWW!! That means I have lost over 100 pounds. I cannot figure out why my scale at home says I weigh 145.5, but who cares!? I have an appointment with Dr. W on the 23rd or somewhere around there...I sure hope his scales are as nice to me as those were today.
4/29/03 Well, my visit to Dr W went well, except for the fact that his scales say I weigh 147...talk about a big range between my gny (137), my scales (144) and his...geez! Anyway, he told me not to get below 140, so I guess that means I'm not through losing yet. All I want to do is lose 100 pounds! If I get to 140 that will be accomplished. I really want a tummy tuck, but I am so afraid. I don't want to push my luck by having another operation. Dr W told me he would do a tuck if I wanted him to...I told him "its either a TT or new cabinets"....He said get the cabinets...LOL
5/20/03 My new pictures are up. What a difference! Finally down 100 pounds. I feel great. Not much hair loss, which was my greatest fear. Thanks to Hair, Skin and Nail vitamins, I got to keep what little hair I had. All my labs came out great, so I guess I'm doing something right.
06/10/03 Well, its been a year and 5 days since my surgery. I feel wonderful! 103 pounds gone! I can fit into a size 6 dress, still in 10 jeans, but that is fine with me. Only if I had the "guts" to get a TT and breast lift! Oh well, I am old, so I'm supposed to be all soft and saggy...LMAO My hubby has a perpetual smile on his face. :)
08/11/03 Been a while since I've posted. Doing really well. Maintaining at 137-140 pounds. Having a TT and Breast Lift on August 22. Very scared about this surgery for some reason.
09/01/03 One week and few days after TT and Breast Lift. Feeling good. Stomach is so tight I feel like I am always holding my stomach in...wonder if this feeling will go away? Breasts look really good! ;) Still a little swollen and sore but its getting better every day. Glad I did it. OH, he took off 4 pounds! One more pound and I will be at my personal goal.
10/15/03 My weight is now holding between 133 and 135, size 10 jeans and medium to large shirt. I am feeling really good since my TT and Breast Lift. My stomach is not real flat though, but, I am almost 56 years old and it sure looks a LOT better than it did. My breasts aren't as small as I thought they were gonna be, I can still wear a 36D bra. They sure are perky!! LOL
12/16/03 Gosh, it has been a long time since I updated. I finally found a protein drink I can tolerate. It has no aftertaste at all. Its called Muscle Milk. Everything is going well with me. I got me a new pair of jeans from The Gap and they are size 6!!! Just kinda skipped over the 8s. For so many months I have read of people my size wearing 2, 4 even 0. I sat here in my size 10s and wondered how come I am the same size and wear bigger clothes?!! Well, no more...lol The compliments have become comments about how I don't need to lose any more and how I don't look healthy and question about how much I am eating and how do I feel and when am I going to stop losing. But, I just keep on keeping on and as long as I feel good, then I will be happy and not worry about what others think. Can't please everyone! So, I will please myself...LOL (Isnt that a song?!) :-)
1/02/04 Well, I did it! Size 6, Gap Slim Fit Jeans. Guess I am at "goal"! Now back to my boring life.
4/15/04 Wow, its been a long time since I posted here. Started a new job in January. Guess if I must work, its a nice one. My weight has stabilized, up and down the same 2/3 pounds, but I am satisfied. I cannot believe it though, I can wear size 4 Levis....SIZE 4! Last time I was that small, I was 17 years old...whoa!! Almost 40 years ago...geesh, how did I get this old in such a short time?
6/5/04 Today is my 2 year anniversary of my surgery date. I am holding my weight between 135 and 139. Dr W is happy with my weight loss and has told me not to lose any more. Since I feel great I will take his advice. I can eat most anything I want, just not a lot of it. Life is good!
