MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY
I am 60 years old, my husband and I have been married 27 years, between us we have a blended family of 7 children, 14 grandchildren, 3great-grands already. I have four children and my husband has 3 children from our previous marriages. I have been dealing with my weight for the past four or more years and especially after my quadruple bypass surgery in 1997. I had 3 heart attacks, bypass X's 4, you name it seems like I have it. I am an insulin diabetic, with arthritis in my joints especially knee pain in both knees and lower back, high blood pressure, thyroid disease (Graves Disease), poor blood circulation, and sleep apnea. What started me considering this surgery was my oldest son, in 2004 he had WLS and he is doing so well I begin to research this for myself, did lots of praying and asking God if this is fo me? After confirmation from God I found the Bariatric Program at Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill here in KCMO and started July 15, 2005 going to support group meetings to find out more about the program and the sugery. I got a consult visit with Dr. Stanley Augustin, and went through all the hoop jumping procedures to have surgery i.e Pysch Eval, Labs, Nutritional consult, Chest Xray, EKG, Echco Cardigram, you know all the good stuff done, was given a tentative date for March 24, 2006 and "BAM! Medicare dropped a bomb that they will not pay if the WLS is not done in a COE and the door slammed shut. I thought writing a letter to Medicare for approval of Dr.Augustin to do my surgery would help (silly me). Dr Augustin's office told Medicare that Dr. Augustin does not do surgery on people 55 and older (go figure) so all my hopes were squashed and I was devastated. I still wonder why he said he would do my surgery knowing that I would be 60 years old at the time the surgery was to have been done?
I found Obesity Help through my son who is a member from Florida, I don't post much but enjoy reading the post of others on the board, and when I was seeking for another surgeon, Colette S. recommended Dr. Phillip Hornbostel of Sedalia, MO. I attended his seminar on April 5th, was suppose to consult with him on May 3rd but couldn't due to eye surgery and was schedule for May 17th consult date. Dr. Hornbostel accepted me as a patient and I was given my surgery manual and now I'm just waiting (biting my nails) for approval, and praying that this time it will happen for me. I love to skate, bowl, read, I'm writing my Autobiography, sing in church, I give all praise to God for His mercy and lovingkindness.
To God be glory both now and forever.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND
MARCH 13, 2006 - Join Obesityhelp.com seeking a new surgeon that would accept Medicare patients.
APRIL 5, 2006 - Attended Dr. Phillip Hornbostel's mandatory seminar at Bothwell Regional Health Center.
MAY 17, 2006 - First consult with Dr. Hornbostel, went very well, he accepted me as a patient and the ball begin to roll
JUNE 1, 2006 - Marg called today and my surgery date is on
August 7,2006 and Pre-Op is July 31, 2006 at 11:00 AM. "Hallelujah.
June 23, 2006 - Well seems like there are lots of emotions going on inside me right now. Does anyone remember the song "Anticipation" well that is the biggest emotion and it mounts and fades at will. I just never really expected the excitement level this takes you too. I'm trying to get things I will need after surgery and trying even harder not to go crazy and stock pile too much. I'll have to get in the habit of relaxing my mind more because right now it is going bonkers. I have my son Namon (FL) as my angel and of course the OH board angels.
JULY 31, 2006 - PRE-OP DAY, my appointment is at 11:00 AM, we arrived early and was processed/checked in. Bothwell has made it patient friendly so the WLS patient don't have to really do anything except wait for the staff to come to you. The only place I had to walk to was X-Ray a little ways down the hall. Was finished ahead of schedule, ate our snacks and was on our way home to Kansas City, MO by 2:00 PM at the very least, we stopped by Sonics for my last "cherry limeade."
To God be the glory!
AUGUST 7, 2006 - WLS day, Dr. Hornbostel says I did very well in surgery. My husband, son, and d-i-l were with me and stayed until I kicked them out, it is a long drive back to KCMO.
AUGUST 14, 2006 - 1 week post-op visit, tummy very swollen I look pregnant, weighed in at 322 lbs. today which is 4 lbs up from what I weighed on surgery day, "oh no, did I have the wrong surgery I thought" I don't know what to expect really. Doctor says I am doing fine and to move to next level on the food plan. Next visit in one month on September 12, at 1:15 PM.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2006- "WOW" I weighed in at 290 lbs I haven't been under 300 lbs in so long, maybe this will work out after all, my weight at the beginning of the year 2006 was 339 my BMI 55.6. Next appointment is December 12 at 1:45 PM.
DECEMBER 12, 2006 - 4 months after WLS follow up visit with Dr. Hornbostel, and Dr. H. says I'm doing excellent. My weight today is 267.8 lbs, feeling great, BP 144/90 but the doctor does not seem to be overly concerned and it will lower as my weight does. My PCP had lots of questions when I saw her on 11-29-06. Dr. Hornbostel answered my questions and calmed my concerns and my next appointment is in 6 months June 19, 2006 (my aunt's BD).
To God be the glory!
2007 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
JANUARY 1, 2007 - What a wonderful day to be alive, I thank God everyday for having WLS and as I watch myself shrink I am feeling better in my body than I have felt in years. I don't make resolutions but I have set goals for myself for this year and one is to make things happen that I felt were impossible for me. I was just thinking that last year at this time I was down in my spirit about my weight, health and my future, but thanks be to God my Heavenly Father who turned my sorrows into tears of joy my spirit has been renewed and I have a new life and a new beginng to get things right this time. All praise be to God.
FEBRUARY 5, 2007 -Thought I would post today, I sort of got out of the habit of posting. In five more days I will turn the big 61 and thanking God for having kept me in the earth for such a long time. I have had some questions about a lot of things, and right now I seem to be at a stand stil in losing. That is bothering me because I don't feel that I'm losing like I should be. In some instances I feel like I'm not losing as well as I hear others are losing, but Dr. Hornbostel says don't worry about that because I will not lose like someone who is younger (35) than I (61). So I guess time will tell I am in clothes that I had stopped wearing but kept in hopes of one day wearing them again and what's funny is they are still in style. I am feeling great health wise though, still haven't figured how to get pictures up yet on here but I will one day. Just happy to be alive. To God be glory!
MARCH 30,2007- Well here we are at the end March save one day and I still feel that I haven't been losing as much as I wanted to by now. There are days when feell just as fat as I was six months ago . I see my measurements are getting lower and when I go to the doctor my LABS are just great but I thought I would feel differently but I can't see the progress really. When I catch a side way view of myself it still is not impressive to me. But my husband is very encouraging and says I've lost a lot. I think I'm going to have to give in and buy a scale so I can track my lost. But I didn't want to find myself weighing everyday. But I feel great and even have a part-time job. To God be the Glory!
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