Joel K
I am a male at last weighing was 412 which was down from 450 during diet, got off of diet and I think I put it all back on, feels like it. I am 31 years old, in 1994 I was in a high voltage electrical accident and have 1st-4th degree burns on my feet, this just ads to the day to day pain of being this fat. I am a very emotional person I wear my emotions on my sleve. This surgery scares the crap out of me, I am afraid of death as well as trying to find a Doctor that will do the LAP. I am not compfortable with all the extra associated risks with open. I welcome and thank all comments and suggestions. I like feedback. [email protected]
6-30-03
Well, not doing so hot. I had to go to the hospital and weigh myself for the paperwork to be sent to see if I am a candidate or not and yes I gained it all back. 448.6 pounds. I am not feeling the greatest about myself. I faxed all the information to the University of Iowa Hospitals today. I was going to use a local Dr. but from what I have heard Iowa City is the only place to go in this state, it is where they founded this surgery. So, that has got to count for something. I just called them to see if they got the fax and when you would know if you were a candidate or not. They said if you were not they would call you and tell you why, and if you were you would get a letter in the mail telling you your first appointment date. I have not gotten a phone call so that is a good thing I am guessing. This is kind of nice, it is like a journal. Have a good day all
7-2-03
I have found some great people on here. I love going through all the before and after photos and wondering if that could really be me. When I figure my BMI on here I am in the Super Obese catagory, I find that almost funny I am past morbid. Can you get past morbid?? LOL I hope not. Also, Super Obese sounds like a super hero, "I am Super Obese Man here to save the day!" LOL well anyway, I called again to see if they have gotten my paper work and the nurse who decides wheather or not you meet the criteria is on vacation until the 15th, who does she think she is?? LOL just kidding, it is just nerve racking to sit here and wait. Wonder how I am going to get through the whole waiting process once I get accepted. I did find out that the Dr. will do the LAP procedure if I can get under 400 pounds. So that is my new goal. I have been walking and back eating like I was when I was on the 8 Minutes in the Morning program which is great, and I have ordered some pills to help my cause. Essential Heat Thermogenics is the name of the pill, they have effadra in them. Now I know most people would say now Joel that is just terrible, but I am so afraid of the open ryn that I will do what it takes to get down to the lap procedure can be done. Well that is enough for today back the to before and after photos and more day dreaming about if that could be me or not. To anyone who is reading this. Have a great day and God bless ya.
7-15-03
There are a lot of trying things that we all go through in life. My home life is not the greatest right now. We both screwed up and we both need forgiveness in our hearts. We have a lot of working to do together. Other than that I went to a pre-consultation education class with the director of the RNY division. She is an ex-trama nurse. We went through the good, bad, and the ugly. I learned somethings that I did not know before. My wife had never really known anything about this surgery, she learned a lot as well as asked questions about it. Made me happy that she participated in this. If anyone reads this. Please put me in your prayers. Put my wife and family in your prayers. Pray for forgiveness and eternal love. Thank you. I hope to find out Thursday of this week if the Nurse says I meet the University's requirements. God Bless you all.
7-16-03
Hi everyone. Well I got a call from Debie the Nurse at the University of Iowa. She said I was accepted as a candidate for the surgery. I would like to tell you I am excited but with all that is going on around here it is the least of what is on my mind. I will be seen as a group. Me and four others will have the same appointments. I found out that it will be sometime in September, I will meet with the dietician, then with the head nurse for a group session on everything about the surgery, the meet with the Doctors for one on one. They will then put us on a three month behavior modification program. If in three months you can show the Doctor that you can stick to the program he will then conduct all the test, send in for insurance approval and schedule the date for surgery. From what I understand I am looking at March as a good guess as when the surgery will happen. I still ask for all your prayers for me and my family.
8-5-03
Well everyone.. how are we doing. I aksed Nurse Debie that I be put on a cancelation list from the advise of you fine folks from the chat room. I just can't say how valuable of a tool that chat room is. I have met some great people. Jeff S the hockey man is a pretty cool guy. And my favorite little ladies LOL Jillyfish, Hotchop, and one of the most incredible persons I have ever met in my life, Brite*Lady. I would encourage everyone I know to visit her site. Weather or not you are having this surgery or not this site is so very nice. http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/wls ... These people I have just listed are such a great source of information as well as support. I don't know what I would of done without them. Anyway back to my story, I got a call from Nurse Debie two days after I asked to be put on the list and I got bumped up for my consultation. I am getting so nervous and really don't know why. Its not like they are going to cut me right then and there LOL... The only bad part is I have to wake up at 3:30 am to go do my job to get home and shower and be ready to leave by 5:30 and drive to Iowa City to be there by 8:00 am for my appointment. Well I am off to the chat room imagine that.. LOL I will update again soon I am sure. As I usually seem to ramble all the time. God Bless and have a great day.
8-17-03
Well hello everyone... I went for my first consult on friday. I knew most everything they told us from the research that I had done and from talking to most of you all here. I did learn some new things as well. This was a looooooooong appointment. When I first got there at 7:30am after a 2hour drive, we got checked into the hospital, then up to the clinics. They took blood pressures, then did a physical, then we filled out all kinds of papers. Then we were asked if we would like to join a study. It is the study to find the gene that causes obesity. They took three tubes of blood from me and then did the DNA swab from the inside of my mouth. Then they will be sending swabs in the mail to my immediate family for them to do as well. It's kinda cool, they give my family 5.00 for doing it and they give me 10.00 for each family memeber I get to participate. So, helping sience and making money at the same time.. you gotta like that. LOL.. Any way that was all one on one stuff. Then due to a year and a half waiting list just to get into the program they started seeing people in groups of 4-5. This helps cut down on the wait. We then meet with Debbie, such a very nice lady. She is the head of department. She gave all the ups and downs, went over the surgery inch by inch and then it got strict. LOL.. Which is a good thing for me I need the strictness as well as structure so I can succeed. Debbie started telling us about the 3 month behavior modification program which is fancy talk for DIET. LOL.. For the next three months I will be on a 2000 calorie diet, which needs to consist of nutritional foods that they gave us a book on. Then every day for the next 3 months I have to write down what I eat and check off all the boxes of what I am allowed to eat in a journal. When we go back in 3 months, they will look at this journal, if they see anything that they don't like, they say we won't schedule you. There are people who were bitching there that they don't like this and they don't like that, Debbie looked at them and said well maybe you shouldn't be here then. Hell there was one chick there who worked at McDonald's LMFAO we all lost it there when we heard that. That was funny. Well then the nutritalist came in and she did a group presentation of what foods and how to count and why not to eat somethings you think are ok. OK STAT FOR THE MONTH, DID NOT KNOW THIS, ONE CAN OF POP OR ONE 8OZ GLASS OF JUICE A DAY = 17LBS OF FAT A YEAR. Can you believe that. wow. I am glad I quit drinking pop. After all that we went back to our exam rooms and waited and waited and waited and waited for the one on one's with the Doctor. I was second in line and had to wait for almost 2 hours. So, finally at 3:00 we got to leave. Yes a very long day. But it was a good day in my mind. My wife went with me and got more informed about it. Well, I would like to thank all of you for your support, the chat room is wonderful you all are so nice. And even the Canadian hockey player Jeff is nice too eh' hoser. LOL. I would also like to thank my family and friends for thier support. My wife, mom, and brother. Also, Kelly, Jason, Kirk, and Scotty Dog. You all have helped me in more ways then you will every know. Thank you and God bless each and every one of you. I will update more as I get into my diet(behavior modification program) LOL.
8-21-03
Hi everyone. How are things with you all? Great I hope. Well kiddo's things are ok. The worst thing about this freakin' diet is writing everything down. I don't eat everything they give us to eat. So writing it all down is useless. I still get my one treat in though. I love TCBY Frozen yougurt softserve. Yummy Yummy in the Tummmmmmmmy. LOL Anyways, I am just on to tell you that things with this diet are going smooth. I am too damn big for a regular scale, so I don't know how I am doing. I would like to go back to taking more of my pills but I promised my primary doc and half of you all that I would not. And if there is one thing I am is honest and loyal. I keep to my word and keep to my promises. Grrrrrr. lol. I figured as long as I just keep breathing things will still keep hapening. So off I go, have a wonderful weekend I know I will. Friday is my son's third birthday and we are spending all day with him doing fun stuff and then on Sunday we are having his birthday party at his Grandma's house. I think I am more excited than he is. God Bless that little shit. LOL He is just the man. Bless all of you too. bye for now.
10-15-03
Good Lord I need to be slapped, I have not updated this in so long. I spend tooo much time in the chat room and forget about this. Well, I am doing well for the must part. I am having lots and lots of body pains but keep it to my self, what good does it do to bitch. LOL.. I have created a website as well. WWW.ANGELFIRE.COM/HI5/BIGDADDY. I hope you enjoy it.
Things at home are getting a little better, some days better than others but I think that is natural. I still don't know what is going to happen around here but I just keep pluggin' along. I went and weighed myself this morning. Down to 417 yee haaw. That is good but I also keep that to myself. I get we are behind you but....... Don't you think you can just keep on going and do this yourself. And I say, at 400+ pounds what do you think.. LOL... Well, I know I promised some of you too get off of the pills. And I did for a while. But I got back on them. I hope to finish this bottle and then surgery will be here soon. The doctor wants me at 375. He said he would not hesitate to do it now but he feels it would be better at 375. OOOOO guess what. I got a call today from Debbie. My appointment for my three months session being over is November, 12th. I am soo excited to get back there and get a date set and get insurance approval. And I just joined the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. This will help me with a more rounded workout. That I need. Also, winter is coming and I need a place to go and get some exercise. Well all, I will update again when I get back from my appointment. God Bless ya and hope to chat with all of you soon.
11-10-03
Good morning everyone. Well I have a day and a half left till I go back for my 3 month evaluation. I am still lingering around the same weight, 417-418. Due to a couple of reasons I think. LOL... Well we had holloween and damn that holiday. LOL Yes I ate some of my son's candy. And then it was time to make pumpkin bread. I love that. I make a killer pumpkin bread. Now those are the bad reasons. The good reason is that at the YMCA I have gotten with a personal trainer and started a weights program. Knowing that muscle weighs more than fat, I think that might be a reason for it. I feel stronger so I am hoping that is a little of it. I am a little nervouse to go back to Iowa city on the 12th, just because it is the next step. OOO lol I just had my stupid sleep study done last night. Let me tell you that just sucked. LOL.. If it were not for an uncompfortable bed I would of been alright. Between my back and my dreams I did not get much sleep. Oh well, what can you expect. Well I will update later when I get back from Iowa City, put me in your prayers and God Bless.
03-15-05
OK so its been a Year and 4 Months, so what of it... LOL Just kidding. Just a little update, I went back twice to Iowa City and my weight loss was never enough and I got frustrated and quit. Not to mention that Dr. Maher left The University of Iowa Hospitals. I took a lot of time off from eating right, from exercising, and from being smart.
Shortly after my last post I started working at CompUSA. I still work there and have gotten fatter and fatter. I am now at 490 pounds, the fattest I have ever been. I tried to get up off of the floor from playing with my son, after rolling to be able just to get to my knees then having to be close enough to the table to help myself up, I just started crying. I am going to be dead soon if I don't change.
I did some more reasearch, and I through this website I found Dr. Coster in Grinnell, IA. This man is pretty cool. I went for my conseltation and got the good news that he will operate. I have to have my family doctor send her notes to Dr. Coster which I have already done, then I have to have a consult with a shrink, which I have scheduled for the 25th of March. Once this is done they will submit to insurance. It sounds once this is done it moves pretty quick. Well, I just wanted to update my page and I will do it more here soon. Once I have submitted I will be back. God Bless you all. Thanks for the support.
4-22-05
OK, this is just amazing. I have gotten all of my required items taken care of. On Thursday April 14th Dr. Coster's office faxed in the request for Insurance approval. On April 15th, FRIDAY, I called the Insurance company just to see if the had everything they needed to make a decision. They told me not only did they get it, that I was Approved and letters went out on the 15th. Then on the 21st I got the call from the Dr and My surger is on May 20th. Holy cow this is exciting and scary at the same time.
I would ask that you all pray for me, for you will have my prayers as well. I am so excited, I need to start getting all my ducks in a row and get ready for this. I will update soon when I have all of my tests done. Thank you all again for all of your support. This has been a long rocky road but I have reached the top of the hill. Please feel free to e-mail me at any time. [email protected]
5-29-05
Well hello, I had my surgery on Friday May 20th. The surgery went well or I should say we thought it went well at first. I went back to my room and really never came to in my head, and then I started throwing up blood, being very sick to my stomach. I kept loosing blood into my stomach, it was from the staple line, one staple was either to close to another or it had hit a capilary(sp?) I was sent to intensive care for a few days till they could get the bleeding under control. I ended up having blood transfusions, I had 8 bags of blood and 2 bags of frozen plasma. After I got out of ICU I spent four days in a regular room. I took medicine for my stomach to heal and learning how to eat and trying to walk. I got home on Friday the 27th. My wife and mom have been great helping me trying to find things to eat that we can PUREEE yuck. I am having problems finding protien shakes that I like as well. I walked pretty far yesterday. Keeping up on my walking and water is the most important.
My last walk in the hospital on Friday was my longest, I went by a room that had a scale in it. I asked to get on. I weighed 462, I had lost 34 pounds in the week in the hospital. I will keep this updated as well as I can. When I get back to work it will keep my busy. I want to thank you for all your support and prayers, this site and all of you have been great.
Thank you.
7-9-05
Good morning everyone. I tell you what, I hope that I am one of the folks that say in the end that I would do it all over again, right now I just don't know. I am down 70 Pounds.. That is cool, but I have been through so much, strep, pinkeye, gout, and blood clots. THis road has not been fun. God bless all the folks that have had it worse than me, I can't imagine.
things are getting a little better, I hope that it continues. I am looking forward to the days that I can say, wow I didn't think I would be able to do that.
8-29-05
Hello everyone, just on my lunch break at work and thought, "Hark, what a good time to update my profile."
I am doing better in some ways and still struggling in others. I was in the hospital ER for a little while the other day. Supposedly the gastric juices and and other fluids in my intestines went the other way and came up into my pouch which resulted in a vomiting fest. LOL Yes about 9 times in 45 minutes counts as a fest. I have been very limited on my exercise and weight is just falling off. I am so excited about that.
I now for the first time in about 15 years weigh less than 400 pounds. I am 3 Months and 1 week out and I am down 102 pounds making me 394 pounds. Only 174 more pounds to go!! I want to be at 220. I can only imagine how fast the weight will fall when I can really start to exercise. Well all I need to get back to work, I want to thank all of you for the thoughts and prayers, and all the support in the chat room is wonderful. God Bless all of you!!
Oct 11, 2005
Well Kids, I just had my 4 month visit last week. Things are going ok. The gout is gone, yeeehaw, I still have issues with lots of stairs but walking is good. I have been walking about 2.5 miles when I get out. I am still having lots of problems eating. I throw up a lot. My surgeon says that this is all normal. I have met so many of you on here that have had no problems, and it makes me wonder what is normal and what is not. I just hope all of you are having great success. As far as the weight loss I am down 125lbs in 4 months. So, I am excited about that, but I still get so depressed, I still look so damn fat. I still have about 150lbs to go. I need to lose more and faster. I am so impatient. Well, I hope that all of you have a wonderful day. And Good Luck to each and everyone of you.
December 4th, 2005
Good morning everyone. I am now down 160lbs. It has been 6 months and a few days, and for the most part things are getting back to normal. I heard for a long time that people have problems until about 6 months out. That is when things started getting a lot better for me. No more throwing up, well at least no where near to what I was. I am having fun buying some new clothes. I am not buying to many though. I still have 117 more that I want to lose. I am going to join the YMCA in January, I need to get to working out. Walking is just not doing it anymore. I need to be working out as well. Well kids, you all have a wonderful day, and if I don't make it back, have a great Christmas Holliday!!
