Cherina

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

I am doing well I am now 10 days out and I walk every day and it feels good. I have lost nearly 8 pounds and weighed in at 174 this morning, which was a great feeling. I can see the diffrence.in my body already so I KNOW that when I see my husband in a couple of weeks he will see the diffrence too!

 The pain is now reduced to severe uncomfortibility but its tolerable and only really bothers me when I try to sleep cause I can feel the port shift against my skin and that is painful, similar to a baby nearly due that gives you a swift kick in the ribs every time you move in the bed. The other incisions dont bother me at all. The gas is still a struggle it sometimes hits me from nowhere like a right hook and it kinda makes me freeze for a minute. The heat is starting to effect me as when it gets hot i get nausious on the spot, it is my home that I will acclamate to the heat and this will soon go away.

I am about to scream if I dont get to chew some food... I am so tired of CREAM of ANYTHING, soup, sause or broth, I can not wait till I get moved to the next phase of the diet.

Dr. Baggs anyone??? 
O.K. So I finally got a consult date with my surgeon (I love that my surgeon) DR. BAGGS ! J the date June 13, but you know I will call and try to catch an earlier appointment. 
So I now know who the ONE person is who can answer my BURNING question, are you going to take my loss, (btw... I am down to 195 with a loss of  19.5%, yeah) which is goon news but the bad news is only 7 pounds has been post official weigh in (*** most of you know my PCP made me prove myself, prior to referral saying that Bari would not take me until the 10% loss). So this is the man, who can give me a straight up answer, because everyone else says “it’s possible but... (Followed by nothing significant)” 
So anyone have Dr. Baggs, or currently working with him??? What’s his personality and do you think I have a fighting chance or is he a weight percentage stickler? Any input about him would be great!
I’m so excited, I hope this maybe could mean a late June date, but that’s getting ahead of myself. 
Be blessed 
Cherina

I had my orientation appointment today in Richmond , and I must say that I am both more frustrated and disappointed with this whole process. I just want an answer and I am so sick and tired of not getting one. I just want to know just how bad my PCP screwed me up and if they are going to take my weight loss. I have surpassed my 10% at the instruction of my PCP and have been on the 1200 cal diet for sometime, to the point of me loosing 43 pounds and a grand total of 21% from Jan. I am not starting the stalling phase of the diet and after speaking with the dietician today I don’t think that I can loose another 10%. 
I just want to speak with someone who can let me know if my weight will be accepted (because generally is should not be, I guess) and the only person to can let me in on this little secret is my sergeant who still remains nameless.  Today I was told that in six weeks I should have a consult and then I can get an answer, but I am at my lowest weight as an adult, I have followed all programs and directions and I am not trying to waste my time, gas and money. I was told to work out less and continue the diet which is weird but I need to know what I am reaching for and be realistic, and to continue STARVING on 1200 cal is not going to be something that I am going to be able to maintain, because this is not getting easier. We were all told when you get near your 10% call but I don’t know what that is because of this complexity of this whole damn situation. 
Further the orientation was 5 hours of information that was useful but easily attainable and in my opinion information that a serious candidate should probably have made his or herself aware of if you are seriously considering WLS. People making jokes and comments that I guess were supposed to be funny but not because this is a serious matter. I was expecting to learn new information and gain new insight but rather I got to listen to people grapple about “why can they not eat in front of the T.V” and shocked about the modifications required in their lifestyle this is supposed to be an operation to change your life... get over it! Or do some research and come back when you are more prepared mentally. Perhaps this is only my feelings because I went through this all with my PCP prior to referral, had to prove the ability to change my lifestyle and habits and loose the 10% just to get a darn referral. 
I am so sorry to sound so negative, but I am so tired of being given misinformation, bad instructions and not getting the answers that I need to put myself in a good place to continue this journey.  I met some really nice people (Hi Mary!!!) and got a lot of alone time in the car, and not much to think about on the way home. 
Anyways... This was my experience, I hope that others who were present got more out of the day than I did. I guess my next goal is to get whatever date that I am given later this week for the sergeant consultation  moved up so that I can have some guidance and direction, because I have been living well and being balanced, and nutritious however if I am required to loose another 10% more radical means will have to be taken and I will have to push my self to the max, cut calories below 1200 and add an hour or two more of gym time, because I need this done in early summer or I am screwed until next summer. I am just frustrated and disappointed and honestly on the verge of tears because I have kidded myself and my family following these directions to the T. and there is a possibility that it has all been for nothing because it is meaningless to this whole process, and in-fact make my process more difficult and challenging. I am not so sure that I can deal with this. 
Has anyone ever felt like this after orientation? Any comments, advice or motivation? (Because lord knows I need it) Be Blessed. 
Cherina

I am just not sure if today could get much better!!! 
So I have already shared with you the news about the blessing that are taking place in my family, in terms of my husbands personal journey to become a man of the L.A.F.D. well while I was making that post I got a phone call from Dr. Schnurr, the psychologist for the Bariactrics program in Richmond, She asked me a couple of ?’s then said some words  that scared me, “I want to see you again”… the pauses between these brief seconds felt like forever!!! Then she said “but, I don’t have any concerns that will keep you from moving forward, im going to go ahead and give you a green light and forward your file>” I did a happy dance at work in the middle of my classroom (literally) Dr. Schnurr told me to expect a call in about 2 weeks  and we will get you schudled for the formal orientation which will most likely be 2=3 weeks after that call.
                 * I am so excited! ! ! * 
Just as I was getting ready to send this message my phone rang once again and guess who it was, the case manager at richmand, she had a cancellation and I have my formal orientation 
           this Tuesday the 15^th of May 
                             (happy dance, 
        literally in the middle of class, again) 
I am hoping that this means that from this point forward thing will really get moving. Because of a mistake on behalf of my PCP, I was made to loose my 10 percent prior to referral, and I am challenging to have that weight accepted as it is documented and this was a Kaiser error. If this is the case then, I have all of the major stuff done, or will after Tuesday. So hopefully I will be a post=op before spring ends and summer begins. Today has just been an all around good day. 
I do have a couple of questions for anyone who has recently gone through or is going through Richmond .

1. What can I expect at the formal “2^nd” orientation?  
2. Is there anything that I should bring?  
3. Do you ever get to do your consult at the same time?
4. Can you please share your experience?
5. Who was your sergeant and how did you feel about them?

This morning at 7:00 am (which is early) my phone rang and it was the LAFD investigator who was calling to get information from my husband and inform him that he was accepted into the final phase of the employment process to be one of the fine men of the LAFD. This has been a long process that has been nearly a year in the making. What this means is that as long as there are no undisclosed secrets, that he will be accepted into most likely the summer or winter fire academy. (*yeah!!!* I am so proud of him *happy dance*). This is huge for us, we are in our mid 20s have been married since I was 18 and currently we are mid way through our 7^th year of marriage and 3 children four and under (Michaela 4/ Sydney almost 3/ and Mike Jr. 19 mo). Things are coming together.  My career is moving and he is on his way. This is a blessing! 
I know this is off topic but you all have been such a inspirational and supportive force in my life recently that I really wanted to share my joy with you all!!! 
Be Blessed

I think that we may be getting ready to move!!! 
After a twelve round title fight bout with my PCP and some of her aides 
*ding ding ding* 
I think that I got her to amend what is on my as an active depressive bipolar diagnosis (from when I was 18) to a past history of depression and bipolar, which was hiding my journey up.

Truth be told this whole situation
MAKES NO SENSE 
because there are no meds, or records of anything for over 5 years, and my PCP (who for those who have not read the previous blogs has only known me for a month) wanted to be difficult and say that she did not know otherwise when it was all in my medical history and 2 psychologists and 5 + years of stable psyc, no meds and consistency should explain that this was not and active case, what every happened to common sense!!! Now I am several weeks behind because she was too lazy to look deeper into my medical history. But it is what it is and it seems that we may be getting ready to move in the right direction.
I am going to call Bari tomorrow and see if I can get into the next “formal” orientation which is Tuesday because I really don’t want to wait until the 5^th of June, as I am hoping to have surgery sometime in June as I will have lot of extra help at home with my kids in late June and early July. I am going to also ask if I can partner this appointment with my sergeant consult because the hospital is about 1 1/2 hours from my house and gas is pricey right now.  I am still hoping that they accept my weight losses to this point, as this was yet another fumble on behalf of my PCP (although it was my previous PCP). I am thinking positive thoughts and sailing will be smooth from her on. 
I am stating it, & proclaiming 
IN THE NAME OF JESUS!!!! 
And it will be! 
Pray for me, and be blessed.