Weston and Gage's Gr M
I am 42 years old and I weigh 312 pounds. I have a son 23 and a daughter 19. I have a wonderful husband who is with the Nebraska National Guard. My family is very supportive of my decision to have WLS. I have been overweight my entire life, except for a span of about 2 years before I had my kids. I weighed 144 lbs, by utter starvation. I love food. There is no other way to put it. My entire family is obese and riddled with health problems, diabetes, hypertension, stroke etc etc... My mother died before she had the chance to see her grandchildren grow up, I do not want this to happen to me.
I started this whole process in late Septmeber 2004, had no idea where or how to begin. Thanks to this great forum I had lots of help starting. We are military and 4 hours from a MTF. So I had to have a referral from my pcp to see a civilian surgeon. I went for an appt with my pcp and told her what I wanted to do and she freaked. (To put it mildly) She does not believe in WLS. She told me that if I couldn't lose it on my own that the surgery would never work either. I went home and cryed. BUT... She did give me the referral.. I know have an appt for October 26 with Dr. John Goering in Grand Island. I hear Tricare Prime Remote is very easy to approve this surgery, Hope they do!!!
Will update on Wenesday October 27 after my 1st consult with surgeon!!!!
October 28, 2004
Had my first consultation with Dr. Goering in Grand Island, NE. He is wonderful. I went with a whole list of questions and he answered every single one without me asking. He knows his business. Very personable, attentive, seems to really care for what he does and about the people. Would strongly recommend him. Well now its just a waiting game for the insurance approval!!!!!
Oct. 29, 2004 Well got insurance approval today, found out it was approved the same day it was submitted. WOW. Was surprised to find out that Tricare(Triwest) approved for a lap rny. Someone on the message board had me scared when they said that Tricare was not going to approve any more lap procedures. They have been very good to me.
November 3, 2004 I have surgery date. November 23. I pray all goes well. I am very scared and nervous.
November 7, 2004 Well the bomb hit as of last Friday. My surgeons nurse called and said that Tricare kicked back my approval for lap rny. Said that they will only do open. All my surgeon does is lap. What to do??? Well I guess they sent an appeal, so now we wait and see. I can't afford to be off work for 6 weeks with an open procedure. May have no job to go back too.
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December 3, 2004: Well my appeal for lap rny was denied. Now its start over time. My surgeons nurse has sent my paperwork to another surgeon, this time 4 hours away, but he will do the procedure open. Not looking forward to being off work for so long , will have to make the best of it. Am really scared about doing this open. The only other surgery I had was appendix when I was 13. Seems like a lifetime ago. LOL
LIST OF THINGS I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN I CAN ACTUALLY SEE MY FEET: lol
1. Be able tie my shoes AND breathe all at the same time.
2. Be able to buy clothes in a department store and not a fat girls shop.
3. Play with my grandchildren, when I have some!!!
4. Be on top!! (Enough Said!!)
5. Look fantastic for my daughters wedding in July 2005.
6. Not worry about my health like a religion.
Will have to add more to the to do list later. Will keep you updated!
December 20, 2004:: Got approval from Tricare to see Dr. White in Omaha. He can do the procedure open. Am excited and scared. Still having concerns over doing the procedure open. I guess I should be thankful my insurance will pay for it at all. Some companies are dropping bariatric sutgery after the first of 2005.
December 27, 2004:
SO many things have happened since I last updated. A big THANK YOU to KirstIn Pillips of Florida for posting on the message board that Tricare was changing their policy back to covering laparoscopic surgeries. She emailed me an email she got from a senior analyst at Tricare that stated they indeed were reversing the policy decision. WOW. So I put a hurried call in to my original surgeons nurse and she contacted Tricare and then emailed me 2 days later saying that yes it was true. Now I can scheduled lap rny as soon as she recieves the ok from insurance. WHAT A RUN AROUND I HAVE HAD WITH TRICARE!! Sounds like a book. LOL
Will post more as soon as I hear from insurance:
December 31, 2004:
Got my approval from Tricare for lap rny. Will be having surgery on January 18, 2005. I am scared to bits. Will go on Jan. 14 for preop and to see nutritionist. Now the countdown begins. It has been so long since I felt good I can hardly wait. 
January 13, 2005
Well its five days until surgery. I am scared beyond belief. I am so anxious and yet apprehensive. It has been 20 years since I was below 200 lbs. Will I be able to handle that??? YA!!!! My husband doesn't say to much, but I think he is a little scared too. I will update tomorrow after I get all preop done.
January 15, 2005
Got all my preop tests done yesterday. I had a consult with the nutritionist, blood draw, chest xrays and a consult with physical therapy. 3 hours I was done. Everything seems good to go for Tuesday.
Well here it is the day before and I am very nervous. My husband keeps coming in to kiss me and hug me. Kinda driving me crazy, but I know he is worried also. I will put this in Gods hands and pray everything goes smooth. Next post on the losing side.
Am so excited I have an angel. Her name is Trish Rogers from Pflugerville, Texas. I know we will become fast friends.
January 22, 2005:
I got home from the hospital yesterday. The ride was long and tiresome. Surgery went great. The first day I slept alot. Got up to the bathroom in the afternoon, which shocked the nurses. Day 2 was a weepy day, cried alot. Wondered IF I made the right decision. Day 3 the day I came home was much better. Still very sore, but it gets better with each day. Am on puree, and tolerating it fine, am having a hard time with liquids though. I guess it will come eventually.
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January 28, 2005
Went back to surgeon yesterday. Drain tube site was getting sore. He pulled the tube and took out staples. What a relief. That tube coming out was nasty, though. EEEWWWW!! Feels so good now though. Lost 18 lbs so far. Can you believe it!!
March 9, 2005:
I feel so bad for not updating. I am getting lazy. LOL I am feeling great!!! Wish I had done this 10 years ago. I had my 5 week checkup with surgeon on Feb. 24. All went well, have lost 36 lbs, so far. I feel it is a little slow but the Dr. thought it was amazing. He is so wonderful. Don't have to go back and see him till June.
Tolerating all my foods and getting in the water I am supposed to have. All my clothes are getting way to big. It feels wonderful.
May 13, 2005 FRIDAY THE 13th OOOOOHH!!!
It has certeainly been a while. I promised myself I would keep this updated and well, I forget!!!
Have lost 70 lbs to date. Still kinda slow, I think. But am feeling like a million dollars. Buying smaller clothes and just a brighter outlook for everything. This surgery is tremendous!! I would highly recommend it to anyone with questions.
I eat mostly protein and have started to introduce a little carbs and veggies. Not much, but some. Drinking all the time, well water anyway!! LOL usually around 70 to 80 ozs a day. For me thats good, I never drank maybe 4 ozs of water a day before surgery. Will go back in June for my 5 month check. My first WOW moment came a few weeks ago, I was watching tv and realized I had crossed my legs. Made me cry, have not been able to do that for some time.(Such small trivial things make me happy).
Later!!
June9, 2005
Day after my 43rd birthday. What can I say, it just gets better all the time. Have lost 81 lbs since surgery. Had my 5 month doctors appt on Tuesday, a little early, but Oh Well. Dr. Goering said I was doing exceptional. Don't have to go back til January. I see my gynacologist this next week, he is going to do blood work, am anxious to see where I am at. Taking my vitamins religiously, although my hair is falling out by the handfuls. I can handle it, if thats the only thing I have to put up with.
Getting excited about my daughters wedding in July. Was so afraid I would look like a huge frump, at least now I can find a decent dress to wear and actually look half good. Am wearing a size 18-20,ITS BEEN A LONG TIME!!!
TA TA for Now!!!!
July 13, 2005
Well, I feel Fantastic!! 10 days until my baby girl gets married. I am just shy of losing...100 lbs.
I cannot believe it.
I am tolerating my food, although I do not push it either. I eat on a schedule similar to feeding a baby.LOL I eat about every 3 hours or have a protein shake at least. So far its working wonderfully. I hope to post a new pic soon.
August 1, 2005:
Today is my 13th wedding anniversary.
I haven't updated for a while. So far I have lost 102 lbs. Every day is heaven sent. I feel wonderful.
My daughters wedding went off without a hitch on July 23rd. Thought I looked pretty foxy, if I can say so myself! Pretty stunning for an old fart like me. Wearing 16- 18 clothes. Down from 26 W.
October 19, 2005
Its been awhile. I am now 9 months out and feel like a million bucks. I weigh 196.5 lbs. The weight has slowed alot, but am comfortable with it. Exercise could be better. have not had a period for 3 months now, NO I am not pregnant. having hot flashes from HELL!! I guess my hormoes are all screwed up. Could be worse.
Some GREAT news. I am going to be a Grandma for the first time. My daughter who got married in July is pregnant. She is due Late May or early June. I am ecstatic!!!
December 4, 2005
I am horribel at updating this thing. I cannot believe its been almost a year. It has flown by! The difference in how I feel and look is incredible. I am down to 188 lbs, from 312. I went from a size 26 womens to a 16. I haven't worn a 16 since high school.
Last month I started having some tummy pain. Left side of where my pouch is. Dr. seems to think its some kind of gastritus. Pretty painful at times. Went back on Pepcid and it seems to help some.
I eat between 1100 and 1500 calories a day. Don't really count, probably should. I try and watch carbs, keep them under 80 a day. I don't deny myself a slice of toast or a bite of potatoes, just protein first.
I will be going back for my yearly checkup next month will update more then.
January 25, 2006:
Well its been a whole year for me. The 18th was my sugery anniversary. Had my yearly checkup, went fantastic. Have lost 135 pounds so far. I eat five small meals a day, don't really count calories, just eat protein first and if theres room some veggies or carbs. I know calorie wise I am between 1200 and 1500, most days. Weight loss has slowed considerably. Am still losing just not so much so fast. I would highly recommend this surgery to anyone who needs it. It has been easier than I ever imagined. I have only dumped 2 times in a year, from fats, not sugars. Although I have never really pushed to see if I dump from sugar and don't plan to. Will update more another time.
March 2, 2006
Gosh time flies. Have been having some severe pouch pain off and on. Doctors can't find anything. It is so bad that I cannot hardly walk at times. Don't know if something I am eating triggers it or what. Will have to wait and see. Otherwise... I am doing fantastic. Finally the scale has moved, am down to 168 pounds. Never thought it could be possible. I don't want to lose a lot more, maybe 10 pounds or so.
I am an angel to a wonderful woman in Kansas. Robin Snyder, she is awesome. I will try and help her all I can. I am so grateful for all the help and support from this website, I feel like I should give some back in return.
November 6, 2006
OMG its been almost 2 years for me. Cannot believe it! Would I do it again??? YES!
I feel fantastic. I am down to 162 lbs from 312 lbs. WOW. I now wear a size 12 from a 26. I still feel like the fat girl inside, but am working on the image thing. My kids and husband have been so good, they help me immensely.
I have a new, my first, grandbaby, Weston Ryder Keyes, he was born May 11, 2006. This is one of the reasons why I did the surgery. I wanted to be here to see my grandbabys.
I went to see my gynnie in July and he doesn't want me to lose anymore weight. I weigh 162 lbs I still would like to lose around 10 more, but if I don't I will be happy.
My husbands neice is going to have the surgery tomorrow. I pray all goes well with her. She is using the same surgeon I did in Grand Island Nebraska.
Will try and update a little better from now on.
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