bethp
12/31/06 - a new beginning!!! Diet History (limited by memory) – hx of eternal hope!!! I cannot count the number of times I have started and stopped diets…everytime a magazine came out with something interesting…. Woman’s World comes out weekly….a new idea every week, new hope, this could be the one!!! Vitamins, shakes, supplements, books, etc.!!!
1970- Senior in High school I found out about Dr. Stillman and his diet but my mom did not like me eating so many eggs but I read the book and did the diet on my own!
Life changing event – graduated from high school, moved to scumbag diet dr. selling Fastin/black beauties, etc. I worked during the day, no need to eat, partied all night, ended up with pneumonia, hospitalized and no insurance! End of speed routine! 1976- Scarsdale Diet, Rotation Diet, New books, new diets…same results, could lose, but not maintain. 1979 - Last year of pharmacy school- found WW again, it clicked.....135 lbs and hot stuff, so I thought. Graduated from pharmacy school ... had the whole world in my hands WW cannot count how many times I stopped and started. Lots of weeks but not in a row!!! Not consistant besides every week or so there is a new diet! 1989- I discovered Dr. Horowitz and phentermine. I started at 230 and eventually lost to 140 over 1 1/2 year period. 140!!! ME, wow!!! Protein Power/Atkins/ Low carb, even a few more attempts at WW!! But there is always hope! Somewhere in here I even looked into possible clinical trials. FRUSTRATED – followed program exactly but did not lose inches or pound 2003 - 2005 Dr. Scott Isaacs, endocrinologist – Dx: Metabolic syndrome (Rx: metformin, growth hormone deficiency)
Finally just gave up… not really because I am never completely happy with myself. I can be happy but not when my stomach hits the steering wheel, or my knees hurt, and now bone spurs hurt! Plus I AM TIRED!!!!!!
I still continue to read magazines and books, especially low CHO. Start a new eating plan every other week but I am always hungry. I had looked into Lap-Band surgery when the FDA first approved it but at the time I worked for the State of Ready for a new way of life!
1979 - Life changing event – graduated from college – on top of the world, even had my own money!!!! Also bills!
1981 - On my own, also eating on my own, whatever I wanted. In the drugstore there is a candy counter in front of the register! gradually gaining to 160, discovered Nutrisystem, lost 10 lbs but did not like the expense.
1983 - Forever Life changing event – got married.,,,,developed low self-esteem due to weight battle.
1991 another life changing event – PREGNANT at 39! But had preterm labor, on bedrest for 2.5 months, hospitalized much of the time but delivered a healthy baby girl at 36 weeks….the light of my life! Also gained 75 lbs….and continued to gain after delivery. As soon as I started eating CHOs the weight began to pack on again…Life after pregnancy: ONE DIET AFTER ANOTHER....SAME SONG, NUMEROUS VERSES.
1992- Dr. L.Horowitz Phentermine 8mg bid, NO LOSS, Frustrated, did not like program Or way insurance was billed. O maybe excuses.
1994- found another diet doctor, lost 50 pounds, but then I thought I could do it own my own. Found Protein Power the answer to all my diet problems. and it worked as long as I did!
2002- Curves came to town! I did this for 4 months, faithfully, and lost ZERO!
2006 brought a new job, more money, now new insurance, also separation from my husband.
2007 brings new life and TONS OF RENEWED HOPE!!! I no longer want to lose weight for appearance reasons. I have moved onto the health stage and for ME!, no one else. This is for me…. I want to feel better, not hurt all of the time, not be out of breath all of the time, be able to walk up a flight of stairs and be able to keep up with my beautiful teenage daughter and most all be around to see her grow up! What a wonderful life!
The process begins:
January, 2007 I am so ready. I have changed insurance because they cover WLS including LapBand. I have an appt on January 11 with the surgeon. I go to my second informational meeting on January 3, I am set to go but whoa, put on the brakes! Jan. 10 I get a phone call from the doctor's office. My insurance does NOT cover this, after I had changed plans.....cancel all appointments and put on a mad! My husband does not want this anyway. "Why do I want to ruin my health and leave a foreign object in my body?" He just doesn't get it.
February 2007 - I go back to trying to diet but I keep slipping. I knew WLS was the route for me. Call corporate office about the insurance. It was a mistake! In changing providers, all the kinks were not worked out. WLS is covered. So I start again. I make appointments with WLS surgeon and psychologist. Decide to have laser surgery on my eyes. Have to have PRK, one at a time. The first one not so bad.
March, 2007 - I cancel appointments again. My husband does not want a wife with a band in her stomach. March 15 - I make appointments again. March 29 - I meet with Dr. Hart. He is great, very understanding. Says lapband is a good choice if that is what I want. Yeah! Time to get my stuff together.
April 4 - meet with Dr. Snook, psychologist. He gives the go ahead. Now the waiting on the process. Gather materials from PCP and cardiologist exam.
Wait for review by Dr. Hart for pre-op bloodwork and upper GI....can you say, yuck!!!!At least he says I do not need another treadmill test, yeah!
April 25 - dietary consult. One more green light! But Rachel threw a kink in " are you sure you don't want LGB?" considering your eating Hx, emotional and otherwise?" hmmm
May 2 - upper GI. My insides are normal, no hiatal hernia. Okay to have lapband. If I had a hiatal hernia, LGB would be the best option so no hernia, moving on.
May 9- I have laser surgery on my other eye (my reading eye)!
May 10- OMG, I cant see, it hurts so bad. Bottom line: allergy to the contact used as a bandage - made of silicon. Well, praise God, for that contact mixup. No Lapband for me. I am not even taking that chance. The decision is made. Dr. Hart says okay to LGB. When the reports come in from upper GI, I will be ready to submit.
May 14 - I am ready to start the insurance process. I make the initial call and give all the information.
May 15- Dr. Hart's office faxes all of my clinical information.
May 23- I receive approval letter dated May 18, 3 day turnaround after all of that waiting!!
May 24 - Dr. Hart's office calls to schedule SURGERY but Dr. Hart has broken his thumb! But in the wings is his new partner, Dr. Johnson, to take over! Yeah, I have a date, JUNE 12, is set in stone. Except for the pre-op appts, that's all she wrote. June 12 came and I have a new small stomach pouch! and the journey to the thinner me has begun.
