ajmohr
I have been thinking about WLS for a while but we had different insurance. In June our insurance changed so that is what has started this journey. I have a great husband and 2 beautiful girls that I would like to see grow and would like to do so much more with my family. I don't want to sit by and watch any more. I have been heavy most of my life except for a few years in my late teens/early twenties. But like everyone else here, this is the heaviest I have ever been. It is definitely time to do something drastic.
So far I have an appointment this Tuesday October 18th for my first consultation at Barix in Langhorne. This appointmant was rescheduled by them from Sept 23rd. We will see how it goes. I am going to check out all my options and check out a couple of different places to find where I feel the most comfortable. I will update after my appt.
October 21, 2005- I met with Dr.K on Tuesday, October 18th. He was so easy to talk to and he explained everything in detail. I really feel comfortable with him. I also met with Shannon. She had the surgery done by Dr. K and she looks great. She had pictures and answered all the questions I threw her way. I am waiting for pre approval from the insurance now. I only need to have an EKG done and sent to the Dr. I will update more as soon as I hear more of what is going on.
October 28, 2005- I received a call from Barix today that I was approved. I just need an EKG done which is scheduled for Nov.1st. If that looks fine then I will get a call within a week from after they receive the results to schedule a date.
November 2, 2005- My EKG was normal(thank goodness) now I am just waiting for a call from Barix to schedule a date. Things are just moving along. I am planning on going to a support group meeting next Tuesday night at Barix in Langhorne.
I saw this idea on someone else profile and I thought it was a good idea so that after my surgery I can look back and see all the things I want to be able to do.
I want to be able to shop on the smaller side of Fashion Bug, shop at Victoria's secret and buy pretty bras, there is one particular roller coaster at Hershey Park that I couldn't fit on, go repelling, and white water rafting, feel comfotable in shorts and a bathing suit(water parks here I come). Shop at H& M. Go ice skating with my 9 year old and take golf lessons with my 6 year old(the future Tigress Woods).That is it so far.....I will add as time goes on.
November 7, 2005 I was told that I will be getting a call this Friday to get a date. I will update as soon as I hear something.
I have been told that now I am waiting on benefits varification. It was sent in to my insurance on Nov. 18th. I was told that it can take up to 2 weeks to hear something.
It is November 28th and I am still waiting for a date.....still waiting. I hope I hear something soon.
November 30, 2005-Well I received the call from Peggy from Barix and now I am scheduled for Tuesday January 17th. I am excited, nervous and a little frightened all at the same time. I can wait to buy new clothes!!!!!! My PAT's are scheduled for Dec 27th. I haven't really told many people about this. I guess I don't want to hear everyone's opinions and horror stories. I need to do this for myself. And I am on my way to a better me.
I received my letter from Barix this weekend(Dec 3) and my surgery date was different from the date given to me over the phone last week. Here the doctor only does 2 lap surgeries and 1 open per day and his schedule was full for my day so I was moved to the next day. So now it is January 18th. No biggie. What's one more day when this is a rest of my life kind of thing. I told the CEO at my work today and he was really supportive about my decision. He is a great guy and told me to take off the time I need. I felt better after telling him, I was worried about telling work. There are only a few people I work with that know about the surgery and one is my angel here on this site. I really have only told a few people so far. Only my immediate family knows about this and I can't wait until next summer at some family event to show up much smaller. The thoughts of that just make me smile. I hope there is one of the giant bouncing things the kids jump in.....all I can say is I'm going in!!!!!! I have always wanted to do that. Well that's all for now.
Dec 11, 2005- 38 days till my surgery. It seems kind of far off. But I know after Christmas time will hopefully fly right by and the new improved me will be here. I am tired of having sore and painfull ankles. They kill me sometimes. I hope getting the extra baggage off will help that problem. I look forward to next Christmas and feeling better then. Also I received the paperwork this weekend regarding my 20 year High School reunion. It is in April. I should lose a decent amount in the three months after my surgery so that I can feel a little more comfortable going than I did at the 15 year reunion. OH what fun.... till later.
December 18, 2005- my surgery is set for January 18th 2006- Wow 1 month until my surgery. I realized that my consultation was October 18th so for me it will be a 3 month process. I could have had my surgery in December but I wanted to wait until January because my husband is going away for work in January and he needs to be home for my surgery.
December 27, 2005- PAT day. Had bloodwork, Chest X-ray, Pulmonary testing and a history and physical done. All went very well. Everything is moving along great. All I need now is a time for my surgery. I can't believe it is 22 days until my surgery. I am not nervous about the surgery. I am more worried about getting my kids off to school if I am here alone thing. I have a ton of support but my husband works for Microsoft and travels a lot. Can't complain though-Microsoft has the most excellent employee benefits I have ever seen. We feel like we hit the lottery because of the benefits. Bill Gates takes care of his employees. Anyway, I will update as my journey continues.
December 29, 2005- When I was at Barix on Tuesday I saw a nurse there that I couldn't place. I knew I knew her but couldn't figure out where from. I didn't talk to her when I was there. Well tonight I was at church for a mini-Vacation Bible school that was Narnia based at out church and there she was. We sit in the same vacinity at church every Sunday. I asked her if she worked at Barix and she said yes and the rest is history. How crazy is that?
20 days until my surgery.
January 17th 2006, well tomorrow is the day. I have to be at Barix at 5:45am. Nice and early. 1st one of the day. I am still not really nervous. I have a sort of calmness that I can't explain. It is noon and now I am on clear liquids until bed time then nothing in the morning. I can't complain though, some have to really do a good cleaning out before surgery. I am one of the lucky ones. Well, I will update after I get home. Here's to a healthier me.
January 26th,2006. Hey, I made it, I am 8 days post op and I feel pretty darn good. My surgery went great. I went in to Barix Wednesday the 18th at 5:45am. I checked in and then kind of waited around until 7am when they took me back to pre op. I got changed into a gown, some nose spray, some nasty tasting drink, got my i.v. and was totally settled for a while. There ended up being a problem with one of the operating room nurses. She had hurt her neck working out that morning and had to go to the E.R. So my surgery which was supposed to start at 7:30 was pushed off until after the first surgeon was done around 8:45. Not a problem. They came in and took me off to the OR and the next thing I remember they were waking me up in recovery. Then I was off to my room. I was up and walking in about 4 hours and having very frequent breathing exercises. The day of surgery was kind of a blur but I remember pushing my pain button frequently. I basically slept between breathing and walking.
Day2 was a totally different story, I went to get an x-ray first thing in the morning. You have to drink very nasty tasting stuff. When that comes back fine, they will remove you catheter. Then sometime soon they take the pain pump away. Which is fine because it really just made you not care that you are in pain, it really didn't take the pain away. Thay gave me a liquid pain medicine after which I felt worked so much better for the pain. Also you get to have tae, jello, ice pops, water and juice. There really isn't much rest going on while you are there at Barix. They have you walking every 4 hours and breathing every 2 so you really don't get much sleep.
February 28, 2006- Oh my it has been so long since I have updated. I am doing and feeling great. I have an appointment with the doctor on Friday March 3rd and I will see how I am doing loss wise. I know I have lost around 30 pounds so far. I lost 16 at my 3 week visit. I haven't really had any problems with dumping or anything like that. I found out that my surgeon is leaving Barix so I am curious to see how the rest of my follow up visits go. Well I will update more after my visit.
May 25th 2006-Wow has it been forever since I've updated......I have lost about 67 pounds so far and I feel great. Dr. K has since left Barix so now I see Dr. Brader. He seems nice enough and it is just for follow up so that is fine with me. I haven't had any real issues since my surgery. Thank God for this surgery. I feel like a different person. Eating is a totally different experience for me lately, I am never hungry so I eat when I feel like I should(confusing). It was almost sad for me. I used to love food. Now I just eat because I have to. I can't wait to hit onederland. Which sould be soon. Well thats it for now.
June 23, 2006-hey things have slowed down a little. I am down 78 pounds. I still feel great. I am wearing a 14/16 top or a large. And a 16 bottom. I can't remember the last time I wore these sizes. I love to shop at H&M. I really like to shop for clothes now but I am off from school for the summer so I don't have to shop for work clothes until August.I changed my hair too. I will update more later.
July 4th 2006- Finally I hit onederland!!!! I am oficially under 200 pounds, I have lost just over 80 pounds! It is amazing. I have my 6 month check up for July 20th with Dr. Brader. I feel great. Sometimes a little tired but otherwise I feel really well. My ankles don't hurt any more I really like to buy clothes. Yesterday was the first time since I was a little girl that I see sawed on a see saw. I am lighter than my husband now so I was on the up side of it. It was fun.
July 14th 2006- 2 days until my 38th birthday. Oh boy.....Well lets see, I weighed myself yesterday and I was 194. I have lost 86 pounds. Wow. I was at a plateau for a while but now I must be doing something right because my clothes are getting bigger again and I really feel great. My Best friend in the world is getting her surgery this coming Tuesday at Barix(exactly 6 months after my surgery date) and I am so excited for her. We went to the support meeting at Barix- wow I really need to get to more of these. It was so informative and so inspiring. I will be going every month now. Well thats all for now.
October 6th, 2006- Well, time sure does fly right by. I have officailly lost 100 pounds. Wow, I am feeling(and dressing) like a different person. I really like when people don't recognize me. That is too funny. My weight loss has slowed drastically but maybe if I actually exercised that would help. I have a personal goal of 25-30 pounds to go. I am just under 9 months out. I never thought my surgery date would get here and now look where I am at. I will hopefully get a new picture on here soon.
November 24th, 2006- Wow, I weighed myself yesterday and I was 169 lbs. I have actually lost 111 lbs. since January 18th. I am actually moderately overweight, not Obese anymore. How awesome is that. My personal goal is 150 lbs. but I have not weighed in the 160s in at least 15 years. I know now the weight loss is much slower now but that is okay. I can actually wear a size medium top and a size 12 bottom which is crazy. I am feeling fine and doing much better that a year ago.
January 31st, 2007- Hey I missed my "Birthday"!!! I had my 1 year since my surgery date come and go....I am down about 116 pounds since my surgery a year ago and I feel great! I have had such great support from all my friends here on OH and my very best friend Nancy(she had her surgery July). I haven't had any major problems since my surgery, I someimes get a little sick from eating too fast or the wrong thing(I am punished severely when that happens). But otherwise all is well....
February 13th...well I was stuck for a little while but now I am down a few more pounds. I have a total loss of 121 pounds. Crazy isn't it? I personally would like to lose 9 more pounds. But to not be considered having an overweight BMI I would need to lose 19 more pounds. It might happen but my weight loss is sooooo slow right now. It might take me a year to get to that and that is fine with me. Have a Happy Valentines Day.
January 19th 2008. Well, yesterday was my 2nd anniversary of my surgery!!! I have maintained my weight loss very well. I weigh usually between 153-160 lbs. BUT......I have recently STARTED exercising.......fisrt ime in my life!!! I actually enjoy it. I have been doing a workout with my girl friends at work after school a couple of days a week and walking on the treadmill at home. I was running on it yesterday. Crazy. Well I was told that this could help tone me up and maybe even lose a little more. That would be nice but If I stayed in my size 10 behind and my medium tops, I will be happy with that! I would eventually like to have some surgery to give some places a lift and other a snip. I know that will come in time. Well thats it for now......
