OffTheWagon
The office manager said Aetna is very difficult to get approval for the surgery. I hope I don't have to jump through more hoops to get this. I also wish it was easier to get the information sent or given to me. The offices keep sending it directly to the surgeon's office. I just wish all of this was over. I'm anxious to get the surgery, yet scared to death about it.
5/12/03: I just called Aetna and they haven't received anything about the surgery yet. I got the rest of the information to the surgeon 2 weeks ago. On the plus side, I've started exercising (4 days straight now) and trying to eat better.
5/30/03: Just got the call from the surgeon's office. I've got the approval. All I need to do is schedule the surgery!!
6/2/03: Well, I just got my date. I'm NERVOUS now! It's getting real. I have my surgery June 25, 2003!!! WHOOOHOOO!!!!
6/13/03: I'm getting depressed. I think it's because my period is due. I just finished my pre-op testing and the visit with the nutritionist. I just feel so...small.
6/16/03: I've got 9 days and a wake up until I go to the other side. I'm getting more and more stressed. I love the idea of a massage before surgery, but I don't have the money for it. I just want to get this over with!
7/1/03: Wow!! It's hard to believe It's been a week since surgery. I went in Wednesday morning and did ok. I was joking around with the surgical nurses. She told me Dr. Roe did "air guitar" in the middle of the procedure! LOL I said no problem...but hopefully the music was good!!! So far, so good. No dumping or anything. But I'm just desperately thirsty. i guess I'm not getting enough water. I'm still working on eating slow enough. I get a bit of discomfort, but nothing bad. I still haven't weighed myself, and don't plan on it. I don't want to rely on the numbers on the scale going down. I get my staples out Monday...hopefully onto stage 2 then also. I'm terrified of trying the Proteinex supplement. I'd rather not throw up...and even the dietician said it tastes nasty. *sigh* Thanks to all my AMOS supporters...you guys ROCK!!
7/28/03: My first day back to work. I'm having a tough time with my eating. Last week I spent 2 whole days vomitting. Then I got sick yesterday and this morning. Needless to say I'm not the happiest person on the planet. My problems, I think, are the size of my bites and chewing. I'm trying to remember that I can eat almost anything...just not at one time. I try to clean my plate and that is BAD! I'm unable to eat hard boiled eggs...rice is iffy. I'm sorry I haven't been online, but I just wanted to sleep...or throw up...and it hasn't been a priority. You guys have been wonderful to me!! I Love Ya!!!
8/4/03: I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long! I actually had a partial blockage in my intestines...and an infection of the incision and haven't really felt like getting on the computer for a while. My 2nd surgery was on July 28. I still haven't gone back to work, but I'm hoping I will be able to in a couple of weeks. Dr. Roe is going to stitch my wounds closed tomorrow...next week he'll take them out...and after that I'm back!
And believe it or not I found out my sister got the surgery on Aug. 18! Neither one of us knew about the other one! I still don't really know what I'm doing with my eating...but at least I CAN!!!
9/22/03: My first day back to work. YIPPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! My scar still bothers me although it is closed up now. I also have a pain to the right of the scar whenever I exert myself. Other than that I'm doing good!
I just purchased a membership to Gold's Gym. I worked out yesterday for the first time. I plan on working out every night after work in order for this to become a habit. I also have some goals I want to work for.
Goal 1: Avon Breast Cancer 2-Day walk
Goal 2: Flying Pig Marathon
I plan on learning to dance, ride a horse, and fly. I already have the information on dance lessons and I'm waiting to save money for private pilot ground school.
I don't have lots of energy, but I'm hoping that will get better soon. I realize that sitting on my butt for almost 3 months made it much worse. :)
10/3/03: 3 months and 8 days out...I've been doing my cardio and started weight training. Just upper body on the weights for a couple of weeks per Dr. Roe. Last week I couldn't work out one day and I really missed it! I guess it's like working. You don't really want to be there when you are there, but you really miss it when you can't! I got weighed last week and my weight didn't change, but the fat% decreased and the lean% increased. He said that shows that my body's getting enough protein and it's rebuilding what it used to heal. I put my profile out on the internet dating services and I'm getting emails. I haven't dated in so long that I'm not sure I want to... Anyway, it seems I'm getting energy, but the depression can sneak in and catch me. But I'll deal with it. I'm also working on breaking the habits of eating at my desk and in the car. Oh...my insurance is going to be changing. I'm also going to have to change my primary doctor. I don't know what this is going to do to my aftercare and TT, but I'll keep you posted.
10/17/03: Approximately 3 months out and 69.8 pounds gone!! My lean mass is back to where it was before surgery, too! I'm 50.2% fat. I'm just getting into size 24 jeans and I feel GOOD! Tonight, I plan on doing a 45 minute walk and full body weight workout. I WILL be sore tomorrow, but it's a good kind of sore! A woman that had surgery the same day as I did just got into the century club...but she had more to lose...and no complications. I just feel blessed because I was able to have this surgery. I found out that when I change insurance in January that my surgeon is not a member...so I'll have to pay for his visits out of pocket. So...I've got until December to get to the point where I don't need to see him much. I feel great and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!! It is SO worth it!
11/24/03: Well, I'm 5 months post-op. I was laid off from work after I'd been back for only 3 1/2 weeks. I still don't have a job and my insurance is going to run out. BUT...I'm doing pretty good (83.7 lbs down). I'm not as depressed as I could be because I've been exercising. I am officially no longer morbidly obese. I'm only obese now! LOL My BMI is 39.9. I'll be ok, though. As soon as I get a job I'll feel better.
BIG problem, though. I've started the emotional eating. Chocolate. And I'm not getting sick. That's bad. BUT, I'm also working on it...using Dr. Phil's new book. I'm the problem child, so don't take me as a role model. But this has definitely been a very positive thing for me. Everyone take care and good luck on your weight loss journey!
11/22/05: I have binged/grazed my way back to almost where I started. I'm trying to get appointments to get counseling for my eating disorder. I've also maxed out on the anti-depressants I'm on. If I can't get this beat, it was all for nothing.
3/6/17: I've changed antidepressant medications, started counseling, and am working out again. I moved to Arizona. I'm feeling great! I'm down to 218 with 37.5% body fat. I also won a challenge at my gym. (Percent body fat lost in 7 weeks. ) There were 500 people who started over all of Tucson. I beat them all with a loss of 8.2%!
I just found out I have an umbilical hernia and I hope I can get the plastic surgery covered. Not sure how to go about that. Any suggestions?