Melissa R.

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So until just this moment I have been struggling with nursing school and now working a summer job that I love.  What a busy 6 months it has been.  I have been unable to attend support group meetings because it always seemed that I had a test the next morning and study was the priority, thankfully the online groups have helped keep me in line.  Then I had to find a summer job and thankfully one practically fell in my lap, yay!  As for exercise, I have been able to mostly just walk and study.  I am now down to 180 and have 40 pounds to go.  I am so thrilled and amazed at how happy I am.  I have energy and stamina.  I want to exercise and I want to work hard to get the most out of it.  It's crazy how good I feel and how my desires for a healthy body have changed in these past 6 months.  So today I started water aerobics and love it.  Aside from the instructor, I think I am the youngest one in the class.  Believe me, I am ok with that!!!!  I have a list of classes at the Y that I have put into my schedule and look forward to getting to work!  I am happy and doing well. 

Good Morning all!!!

As of this coming Tuesday, I will be 4 weeks out.  It's gone by so quickly.  I only have 4 more weeks of my delicious pureed diet.  YEA!!!  I must say though that it has not been bad,  I have been creative with cooking for my husband and have been able to satisfy my dietary requirements.  Not too shabby.

My only problem...taking the multivitamin.  The smell is atrocious.  I ordered Berry flavor chewables from Bariatric Eating and the sweetness is not my cup of tea.  It's not the vitamin...it's me.  All things of a sweet nature are repulsive.  I love that, but it makes it difficult in some things.  I am trying and will not give up.  I've signed on for life and I'm committed to my personal health.  I will get these multivitamins down.

I met two women, mother and daughter, yesterday at a bridal shower.  They had both had gastric bypass about 5 years ago.  The mom looked amazing.  She was slender and beautiful, it was as though she had always lived in her current body.  However, her picture said otherwise...she weighed almost 400 pounds.  Her transformation was truly amazing and inspiring. 

Her daughter was another story,  she weighed about 300 she said and she barely lost any weight at all.  Her doctor told her she could have any meat she wanted after her first week.  She said that she did do that, but all too soon she had slowly re-incorporated carbs back into her daily routine.  She simply said that sometimes the gastric bypass doesn't take for some people. 

I made up my mind as I was leaving that it would work for me and that no matter how frustrated I might get sometimes with my pureed and soft foods...I will not waver.  I want my dream. 

So I have my date...December 16th.  I am now on my pre-op diet and tomorrow I have my pre-op testing.  I'm excited and looking forward to starting a new life with my husband.  A new healthier and more energized life...whoo hoo!!!

I have been calling once a week to my doctor and to my insurance company to find out what progress there is or if anything had even been filed yet.  I was being sent to voicemail at the doctors and the insurance company could only tell me no pre-authorizations for GB had been requested.  I was feeling so discouraged.  I had no idea what was going on and no one was returning my calls. 

Then I had a lucky break.  I made my weekly call to my doctor's office.  Instead of the usual person who answers the phone, I got my insurance specialist.  I told her who I was and strangely I think I could feel her apprehension over the phone.  To say the least I was worried about what she was going to say. 

She started with an apology and then explained why I had not received a call back, return email, or why my insurance had not been filed. 

They lost my chart.

Yup, lost it.  (So to speak.)  It was accidentally sent off to be scanned, shredded and archived.  This unfortunately happened with about ten (10) active charts.  She told me the practice manager was supposed to have contacted me and she apologized a lot.  All I could do was laugh.  I have experienced these situations in my own office and it can be a pain, but it is fixable. 

She said they were looking for the charts and that the practice manager hoped to have them back soon.  So I told her that I would just go on back to school and that I would be fine waiting till December to do my surgery.  I asked her to call me once the chart was recovered and my info was filed.  She promised. 

I am really diappointed to have to wait another 4 months, but I'll manage.  I'm just glad to have some answers.  It was hard to be in the dark and worrying for no reason.  At least now I know what I'm getting for Christmas!!!

I had my final consult on Friday the 18th and my doctor told me to start the 2 week pre-op diet the next day. He was encouraging and optimistic. I went out and purchased the protein shakes and low cal meals to get me through the next 7 days. I pep talked myself and got my gumption up to a roaring start.

To say the least I had a rough couple of days at first, but then I got into a rhythm with the shakes and meals. I was losing the pounds and excercising. It was easy to do because I had a set time frame, even if I had no date scheduled. I was told to get started and I did and I was doing great!

The all liquid week was not easy and I was a whiney, annoying mess. I just wanted to eat something solid.... I did as the doctor told and I called in to check on insurance progress...yada, yada, yada. The very kind and patient insurance lady told me that nothing had been sent in yet, becuase the doctor had not given her his dictation.

All I could do was sob...about him telling me to get started. She rather freaked out on me and put me on hold. When she returned she told me to stay on phase 1 until they called me. That was it.

So now that I have no set goal but to drink 3 protein shakes a day and eat a low cal meal for lunch, I am floundering. I hate that! I'm not going full on eat everything in site, but it's the little things...I know myself and I am fighting back at the apathetic person I could become. So please send me good wishes to be strong against snacking.

I want this procedure, mostly I need it and I will get through this. :>

To say the least this week has been a bear.  The headaches alone have made me and everyone around me some what miserable.  Good news, the headaches went away.  I have not been hungry all week, but the cravings are amazing.  I was cursing the microwave last night because I wanted some popcorn.  I saw a guy eating it on tv and then I had to have it...subliminal messages...I think so. 

So Sunday I begin a week of liquids only.  That should be fun.  I will bear in mind that I have a bigger goal, a deep desire, a hunger (if you will) to have more from life than from my dinner plate.  So I will get through and I will be great!

I had my final consult with Dr. Lynch and his fine people on Friday, July 18th.  I went in excited and ready to move forward.  That being said I am aware that all life on this planet or at least in America, stands still for the insurance companies!!!  Let's not even travel down that long and painful path.  I will say that I am very fortunate to be working with some excellent people at Baptist.
Dr. Lynch told me to start the 2 week pre-op diet this morning,  He said that everything was in order and we might be able to get this done before school starts.  That would be such a blessing, becuase I hate to miss class.  I have already spoken to my instructors and they are so supportive about missing class and changing my life.
No one needs to tell me how very fortunate I am,
I know it and am grateful everyday!