C.C.
Wow 4 years and still at 120.
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3/7
272 LBS
Every story I read here is more inspiring than the last. Still this decision is so hard to make. I still have so many questions. It seems the more research I do, the more questions I have. I am only 27, and my biggest concern is pregnancy after the surgery. I want to have enough energy to provide my children with as much love and activity as I possibly can. Right now my energy level is less than pitiful. And I want to live long enough to be there for my children as long as I can. But do I risks of malnutrition in the womb, outweigh the benefit of providing my child with a normal well balanced life? My parents were overweight and they were great parents, still are. I wasn't and still am not tramatized by my parents weight at all. The weight isn't really what bothers me. It is the health aspect. At my age, I am already experiencing fatigue, lack of energy, back and neck pain, and suffer from asthma, a condition that I once "grew" out of during childhood that has come back to haunt me. But I know that my weight is staring me in the face, I am not going to get any smaller as the years go by. I have been on every diet, program, and exercize that you can dream of. The fact that I am not sustaining the weight loss is not because I am not trying! Sure I see a few pounds here, a couple there, they add and subtract to balance each other out! It seem so wierd that I am weighing my options here based on a child that isn't even concieved, yet I have unpredictable periods, and my weight could be a factor for my troubled menstration.
I would love to hear about your journey if you have had a child after your surgery, or if you are like me, HOPEING /planning to have a family later, and have started your journey, please email me.
3/29 I have decided that my lond and drawn out fact finding process has led me to attend a seminar. I have almost made up my mind. I am brining my husband with me to the seminar.
4/10 Confused again, everytime it seems that I have made up my mind, I find another concern. The old addage 2 steps forward 2 steps back! Right now I am leaning towards the Lap-Band, but am worried about slippage. ADHESION! And I heard that BC/BS of Fla. will no longer pay for the surgery! I am BC/BS Ala. so this news concerns me! It could be any day now and insurance could pull this!!!
4/20 Hope to have the Lap-Band w/ Dr Louis Martin, If he won't do it! I don't think I'll have anything.
5/3 Have ordered Unjury and will attempt the South Beach Diet again!! So far to date, no luck with Redux, Meridia, or Xenical. Redux was years and years ago and I tried both Xenical and Meridia for the 2nd time no shot! I HATE THE XENICAL!
Diets tried:
Atkins
Weight Watchers
No White
Jenny Craig
Sugar Busters
Body For Life
Lo-Carbonator
Eating 800-1000 calories a day
Protein Shakes from EAS
And the dreaded OTCs
Slim Fast
Metabolife
Optifast
Fitness Wise
Tailored fitness plan
Yoga
Pilates
Jakie Sorensons Aerobic Fitness
Jazzersize
Weight Training
Windsor Pilates
Taebo
Walk my dogs daily!! (Still do!)
STILL NO ENERGY and NO CONSISTANT WEIGHT LOSS! My weight comes back more than I started the diet with! Lose 15 Gain 22. Ect ect! Stop the cycle!!
BUT I AM DETERMINED TO SUCCEED!!!
St. Charles General Weight Management Center called me Last Tuesday 4/27! I was scheduled to go to orientation tom 5/4, but I got inpatient and went about 3 weeks ago on 4/15! They told me that they would be in touch in 2 weeks! (That there contact was on vacation for 2 weeks!) I waited patiently and gave them the full 2 weeks. Then they called ON MY CELL PHONE last Tuesday 4/27! By the time that I got the message it was 4/29. I called at my lunch break, and left messages! Then I called 4/30 and the Trainer called me back, said that he was checking someones messages and that I wasn't in the computer to call back on Monday! Monday .... Here it is! I have called and left a message and no return call! What is a girl to do but wait! I hope that I grow back some of my patience!!! Cause I am loosing it quick!!!!
5/4 Another Phone tag day! But this time since I was scheduled for the Informative in Baton Rouge. I knew that I could get a face!!! Emails may also be the key! Lets hope that I can schedule a consult soon. At the mtg I met Dr Scalia! I really like him! He also told me the Poly-Systic Ovary syndrome is a CO MORBIDTY!!! Not that this is good news that I have had it for years, but good news that the SURGERY COULD HELP WITH this!!! Eureka! Now lets hope that INSURANCE is not DENIED!!! Lets hope that they will agree to operate!! Lets hope that whatever happens that GOD Leads me! And that I accept His will!
5/5 Cinco De Mayo!! Consult with suregeon Surgeon SCHEDULED!! MAY 10!! Yipee!!! Time to get all my Med Records in Line!!! And my Unjury came today!
5/7 Got an email that said that My appointment couldn't be kept now I am going on 5/11 and I have no guarantee that I will see Dr. Martin at all!!! ARGH!!!
5/11 Went yesterday to WMC. I ment with Casey first for my exercize assement! I walked on a tredmill for a few minutes. Then with Yvette for my nursing assement. Yvette informed me that since I have no co-morbitities, and my BMI is BARELY there, that she wouldn't have to send me home! She went though my tests with me. Then I met with Vonda for my Medical Health and history and then the new endocrinologist. They were both very nice. Then I met with the social worker, and lastly Diana the Nutrionist! She was very nice I liked her a lot! So I am missing my Psyc testing and consult and my financial consult! I have an appt w/ Dr Iyad b/4 my appt w/ Dr Marin on the 6/7. I also have all of my diagnostics scheduled for Next Fri 5/21. I think I made Faye mad at me! She is sweet and I was joking around with her, but I dont think she thought that I was very funny! I probably won't have a sleep study or have to meet with Dr. Raum. My test will most likely be the Upper GI, Gall Blader, Echo-Cardiogram, Dexa, REE, PFT, Lab, EKG, and chest x-ray. I can do my physical with Dr. M and then INSURANCE!!
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ICD-9 Diagnostic Code for Morbid Obesity is 278.01
CPT Procedure Codes are as follows:
CPT
43846 Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity; with short limb (less than 100 cm)
Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy.(Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass or RGB)
43847 Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for
morbid obesity; with small bowel reconstruction to limit absorption (Vertical Gastrectomy/Duodenal Switch or DS).
43843 Gastric restrictive procedure, without gastric bypass, for morbid obesity; other than vertical-banded gastroplasty
(LAP-BAND�® System)
43659 Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, stomach. Also used for (LAP-BAND�® System)
CPT 43842-43843 Gastric restrictive procedure vertical-banded gastroplasty code range
43846 Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity; with short limb (less than 100 cm) Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy
43847 Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity; with small intestine reconstruction to limit absorption
HCPCS S2082 Laparoscopy, surgical; gastric restrictive procedure, adjustable gastric band includes placement of subcutaneous port)
S2083 Adjustment of gastric band diameter via subcutaneous port by injection or aspiration of saline
S2085 Laparoscopy, gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity, with short-limb (less than 200 cm) Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy
FILLS!!
Upper GI series 769.42. Lapband adjustment S/P lapband 789.02.
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5/21
Today I had my Upper GI, Gall Blader, Echo-Cardiogram, REE, Lab Work, EKG, and chest x-ray. I started subing one meal a day with Unjury, and religiously drank 2.5 gallons of water a day.(Sending me to the bathroom upteen times a day, anyway) I lost 3.5 lbs since I have done this on 5/11! So 10 days 3.5 lbs isn't bad. I have also maintained my South Beach. My BMI is 40. On the dot, now anyway! I have lost more than 30 + lbs on since November, my highest point ever! Highest point that I would get on a scale anyway. They showed me my REE. Saying that if I limit myself to 1000 calories a day and do 20 minutes of exercize a 3 times a week that I should loose about 60 more pounds in 5-6 months. I already walk 2 to 2.5 miles daily! And I know from past diet experiences sticking to it isn't hard for me. I am a planner. I am dedicated. I am also known to plateau. Suddenly after so much progress my lifestyle changes stop working for me, even though I have completely adapted to my new health me, my body rejects the diet and starts gaining weight. (Can you tell that I have been on many successful diets. I loose the weight, but I also gain it back with FREINDS, but I havent invited any of my old habbits back to the party!!!) My trainer has told me this is muscle kicking in. The muscle weighs more than fat! And I just want to kick is bony butt on the floor and say, so WHY DOESN'T the Tape measure show anything smaller! I am so scared that if I follow this program to a tee, that I'll see my progress, and then BAM the scale bumps back up! I guess that each time my body has gotten healthier. I have Exellent Blood Pressure, better than my Doctor and great cholesterol. It wasn't until my trainer sat with me after almost 2 years of him working with me eating with me and knowing me that he said. Maybe GOD wanted you this way!
Do I really want to do this???????? I was so sure.....
No I am just praying that God shows me what he wants for me.
5/23 Thought I would explain the test I had
Upper GI
During the procedure, you will drink barium, a thick, white, milkshake-like liquid. Barium coats the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum and makes them show up more clearly on x rays. The radiologist can also see ulcers, scar tissue, abnormal growths, hernias, or areas where something is blocking the normal path of food through the digestive system. Using a machine called a fluoroscope, the radiologist is also able to watch your digestive system work as the barium moves through it. This part of the procedure shows any problems in how the digestive system functions, for example, whether the muscles that control swallowing are working properly. As the barium moves into the small intestine, the radiologist can take x rays of it as well.
An upper GI series takes 1 to 2 hours. X rays of the small intestine may take 3 to 5 hours. It is not uncomfortable. The barium may cause constipation and white-colored stool for a few days after the procedure.
Gall Blader Ultra Sound this is whay you havent eaten in 6 to 8 hours.A study to visualize the gallbladder and biliary system for evaluation of pathology such as; stones, acute or chronic inflammation, hydrops, tumors, abscesses, polyps, etc. The pancreas and liver are reviewed for pathology also.
The patient lies on his/her back on the ultrasound table. Warmed ultrasonic gel is placed on the patient's abdomen and a transducer is placed on the skin and moved in various positions to properly visualize the organs.
Echo-Cardiogram Also known simply as an �echo,� an echocardiogram of the heart�s chambers and valves is called a transthoracic echocardiogram. The word �transthoracic� means �across the chest.� It is a painless test that is very similar to an x-ray but without the radiation. Instead of using x-rays, it uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to get a picture of the four heart chambers and the four heart valves. The sound waves bounce back from the heart chambers and valves, producing images and sounds that can be used by the physician to detect damage and disease. Because it does not involve any of the radiation that an x-ray does, it is a very safe test. In fact, it uses the same technology that is used to evaluate a baby�s health before birth. Nodes are connected to 6/8 places on the body. It is painless!
REE, Resting energy expenditure represents the amount of calories requiredfor a 24-hour period by the body during a non-active period.During the test the individual is interfaced with a metabolic measurement system by means of a facemask or a canopy. A mouthpiece with a nose clip is also sometimes used, but it may create overly stressful conditions to a subject (patient). You will do this over and over if you have the surgery b/c Clinicians monitoring weight management programs would be able to determine if their clients are actually following a reduced calorie diet based on REE, RQ and the amount of weight loss. These measurements would be very useful in detecting failure to adhere to the diet and facilitate better understanding by the client in achieving his/her weight goal.
Lab Work, They draw blood and you give a urine specimine.
EKG,An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a recording of the heart�s electrical activity as a graph or series of wave lines on a moving strip of paper. This gives the physician important information about the heart. For example, it can show the heart�s rate and rhythm. It can also detect decreased blood flow (cardiac ischemia), enlargement (hypertrophy) of the heart or the presence of either current or past heart attacks.
Lastly Chest x-ray.... Say Cheese!
6/4 For the FIRST time in my life I am OUT OF CONTROL! I have totally lost it! I was scheduled for my appointment with my Surgeon to clear me for my surgery on Monday and the office just called and canceled! I am not over emotional usually, but I lost it! I am prepared for a fight with my insurance company, but not with my Drs office. I kept saying "nothing sooner that June 29. Why are you just cancelong now I scheduled my appointment that I placed on 5/11?" I was transfered all over the place. Hoping someone would help me so I wouldnt have to tell my husband! I was Scared to death to tell my husband who had set up an appointment with a corporate member of the HR deparment who is comining in from Alabama on the Thurs after my appointment. I mean if it was my company or my job I wouldnt freak out! I was just so scared to tell him Ive been buring myself in libraies and hospital resource rooms attempting to gather all the information that I need to defete BC BC. Handing over this info to this guy who is suppose to help me with my claim! I am just worried sick! So I took the appt on the 29 fourty five minutes after I had started my call! I immediatly phoned my hubby about the meeting. And how we would be unprepared.Turns out the guy has other meetings, and I lost it for nothing! Somehow all this research has put me into a frienzy of psycosis! I feel like I am writing my thesis on the lap band. And that call was like one of my professors hitting my jury with a INCOMPENT! I need to get this band and get on with my life I think I am starting to get too obsessive!
I can't believe myself! Acting like a 4 year old! Maybe I need a cool off period!
6/11... Thought I would VENT.... I posted this too but the more I get it out in the open the better I feel!!! Of course I would loose an argument... I am too emotionally vested!
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If I had cancer, and my doctor decided that he wanted to inject poison into my blood, you would pay for that.
Or if my husband wanted to have a vasectomy, which has no bearing what so ever on his daily heath, you would pay for that.
But because I am obese,
You want me to jump through hoops and,
Have a doctor monitor everything I put into my mouth for 6 months or more,
Carry the excess weight for a certain period of time,
All the while, developing more heath issues, or co-morbitities as a result of my weight.
Then after I overcome all the nonsense rules that you have set for me with, which consequently bear no medical validity� Since I meet the medical requirements for surgery and have a BMI of 40 or more.
You tell me that YOU not my doctor will choose what the course of her medical treatment I will have�.
Mr. Insurance��. May I see your MD please????
What am I paying co-payments to the doctor for, if you are going to treat me? Why are their people even in medical school today if you are going to dictate to their patients their treatment? Let�s cut out the middle man here, If doctors are obsolete than lets not draw out the inevitable.
How can you make a decision for me when you have not even as much as laid an eye on me?
To you I am a file. I am not a person.
Well I have news for you, I have a heart and if you were willing to listen to it beat, before you decided what was best for it��..
Then you would know, that all of the years that I have been obese, I have never failed to exercise my brain!
That all those pills and shakes and shots and fad diets, and exercise equipment, and hours at the gym, even though they haven�t taken off my excess has made me a strong person.
I think of these attempts as small battles that I was willing to fight and those battles have made me strong enough to fight your war of denial.
You see I have been fighting my weight my entire life, and you MR. INSURANCE, are just another bump in the road, but I CAN SEE THE END OF THE TUNNEL!
I can�t understand your logic, Obesity is the number killer in the United States. It brings about numerous medical problems. But I guess you don�t have to live in pain or know that if you miss a pill you are risking your life.
You will treat my ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes, but you won�t solve the problem, by paying for my surgery, and helping me get rid of the weight.
You see I may have to carry the weight of 100-200 extra pounds, but I can sleep with that I know that at the end of the day, I am still a good person.
What I wonder is how you can carry the burden of the lives of millions of people that you can help, that you can save, and still keep a straight face when you deny them the surgery that could save their life.
That would be too much for me to carry, But I guess you are fat and happy where you can count it at the bank!
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7/14
LONG TIME!My computer had a virus so!
A lot has happened! I wanted a band, but I TRUST my MD and he says LGB so Laproscopic Gastric ByPass it is! And I am happy with my decision pending the insurnace approval! I have to say my liquid diet is going well and I AM HAPPY! If I was a tad older maybe a band would be a better choice, but 45+ years to go for me so I understand!
I am still PRO band and would love to help any one who needs the research!
I have to say that the BAND clan here is some of the most wonderfull people and I am so proud of all of them! I hope they can forgive me! !
Down to 243! Liquids!!
7/25 Still waiting on insurance approval, found out Friday that my info has not even been faxed over to my ins co!!!
8/9 Just called my ins and MINDY told me that I had been approved, my letter is on the way! I AM SO EXCITED!!!! I am just beeming! Cant wait to get my letter! I feel like dancing!
Wooooo WHoooooo!!! I feel like I just won an academy award, and
I would like to THANK EVERYONE!!!!
When I called I wanted to say Mindy I know you are going to give me good news today! I had a feeling and I wanted to think POSITIVE and WHAM !!! Hold for about 3 mins and I AM APPROVED for Lap Rny! I am so psyed!!
8/10 Dr. Martins office has a copy of my letter. They said they would have someone call tomm to have someone schedule my surgery! YIPEE!!
8/11 MY SURGERY DATE IS SEPEMBER 8th!
9/1 Surgery is 1 week away and I am down to 229! I started at 259. That is right surgery is 1 week away and I have lost 30 lbs since 7/5 prob more but I havent weight in a few days! People are starting to ask me what I am doing! Crazy huh .... Been doing all liquids for 1 week and have 1 more week of all liquids this is really hard, but I am sticking to it! I am so looking forward to some protein mashed potatoes!!!! OR Protein Grits.... anything that I can eat with a spoon!
9/21 Post Op down to 218
5FT 6 INCHES
5/11/04 pre op
256.6 WEIGHT
HIPS 52.5
WAIST 41.5
CHEAST 47.5
BMI 41.4
9/8/04 DAY OF SURGERY
231.5
H 48
W 38
C 48
BMI= 37.4
10/12 POST OP
207
H 46
W 36
C 43
BMI = 33.5
10/24/04 POST OP
200 Almost a 60 pound loss! AMAZING! 30 pds since surgery! 7 weeks ago, while my weight loss is slow it is coming off! bmi 32.3
12/12/04 182 LBS
1/4/04 175 LBS 60LBS SINCE SURGERY IN SEPTEMBER! 4 MONTHS AGO bmi 28.2
2/8/05 165 ABOUT 9 LBS A MONTH NOW. I am still hoping to loose more, I hope that it will com off with my contination of exercize. bmi 26.6 still overweight! but getting to normal weight in size 10 pants.
3/13/05 155 LOSING SLOWLY... GOING TO GO BACK ON PROTEIN LOQUIDS TO HELP GET TO WHERE I WANT TO BE. I am almost normal size by the bmi calulator Below 18.5 Underweight ; 18.5 � 24.9 Normal ; 25.0 � 29.9 Overweight. My loss has slowed, but I was out of the gym for 2 weeks straight.... sick, Getting back in was hard. I will be happy if I keep loosing 10 pounds a month for the nest 3-5 months. Ideal I would like to be 120-125. But I am realistic. And would settle for where I am now as long as I TONE up. Skin skin skin, alothough I am young I will do my arms for sure, possibly my tummy and my breast are a sure thing.. all skin.... nothing but skin!!! Really bad in the arms and breast. That is my only major complaint my arms and breast. I am in a size 8, But still weaing a XL or Large in a swim suit. Not quite sure why..... maybe I want to cover things up! I have gone crazy and bought 4 suits in the lat four days. I still wear the same suit to my water aerobics class.
I love love love my gym. Women's Fitness center in BR, La. I take Zumba, Line Dance, Hip Hop, Weight Training, and Swaroopa. I also enjoy the water classes and Fitness 101 and Body Blade Circut. I take a class a day. M-Th and weight lift MWF. It is a lot of fun. And I feel bad when I dont go!
5/2/05.... leveled OUT 148..... bmi 23.9 Haven't been to the gym in weeks need to start back again and get off my plateau...
6/21/05 136.6 BMI 22 I am NORMAL Weight! 18-24.9 Normal BMI. Size varies between manf. Have worn some 4's but wouldn't by any means consider my "normal" size. Everyone says I am too tiny. I eat a lot, but my metobilc rate is low, like 1100 normal is 1400. So I will start taking something for that. I have some skin issues and would like a TT and a arm lift doc says ok to proceed if I want it. My 1 year anniversary for my surgery date is in September.... Sept 8.... I couldnt remember the date and had to look it up, the gal in the docs office was shocked I forgot my date. So in 3 months it will be 1 year until my surgery.... Ahoy ! Uh huh! If I lookse 16.6 pounds I will be eluded! That is where I want to stop, but doc says stop here..... Uh hum, I have no control over that. To day In a few sittings I had a roast beef poboy then for dinner 3 shrimp and some crab meat. Would love my PS soon !
3/29/06- got down to 125, but back at 132, need to get back in the gym!!!!
6/14/06 120 LBS AND HAVE MOVED back to NOLA!!! Most people look at me and have no idea not alone who I am but that I had any type of surgery. I still see lots of skin and would like a tummy tuck, breast implants and my arms lifted. The money in the bank wants to get back in the house in New Orleans and remebers first things first .... Rome wasn't built in a day! It is hard to belive that I am almost 3 months shy of my 2 year anniversary! There has been a whirlwind of change since I had my surgery from the weight loss to my divorce to Katrina, moving out of the city moving back! The last 2 years seem to have flown by. I often catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and wonder who I am. I did that as a heavy person too, somehow when i was heavier ..... I always thought of myself as smaller and now that I am smaller..... I always think of myself as heavier! Oh how the pendelum swings!
1/1/08- In September it will be for years for me. I weigh 124. I fluxuate between 115-125 Still have lots and lots of skin. Had a TT and Breast lift and Implants, they do not by anymeans look fake. I want a but lift. My but sags and sags and sags, I wear 2's I just got a pair of jeans and they are 26. Wear mostly 2's some 0. Smalls and e-smalls. I have kept it off. I am lucky I guess. This has been emotional for me. Much harder now than in the beginig. I have a completly different life now.