Jeralyn Merideth
29 October 2002
Oct 29, 2002
Can't believe it's already the end of the month. Halloween (Bill's favorite...except for Christmas :-)) is just a couple days away and the kids are getting excited. I've been busy making stuff for Christmas and have not been on the computer much. It's almost been a month since I graduated and I haven't gotten done nearly what I wanted to. Time sure gets away from you doesn't it? We're also making plans for my brother and his wife, and my mom to come for Thanksgiving. I can hardly wait!! The thing that sucks is that Caleb will be here for Christmas, but he's just going to miss seeing mom and Curt. See, we're planning on trying to go to Missouri for the New Year so we can have a late Christmas with my mom and brother....and Caleb is coming in between. Oh well, hopefully we can see them next summer when Caleb comes to visit then. It's been a long time since Caleb saw his uncle Curt and although Curt has missed out on a lot, he is aware of this site and checks it often for updated pictures of the kids. Well, not much more than that happening....so if I don't get back, everyone have a spooky Halloween!!!
15 October 2002
Oct 15, 2002
Well, today was my first "weigh-in" at the doctor's office and I was pleasingly surprised to see that I had lost 9 pounds!!! It was a nice ego booster after what happened on Saturday. I'm not quite sure how it happened, although I suspect that it's because I have not been sitting in front of the computer all day and have been more physically active since graduating. That, and the fact that all the running around I have been doing has caused me to drink about a gallon of water a day!
12 October 2002
Oct 12, 2002
Today we went to the fair in Cumming with Bill's parents and had a really good time. We started off the day eating breakfast at IHOP, then went to the fair, came home for a quick shower and rest for a bit in the air conditioning, and then went to eat supper at Red Lobster. It was a great day.....except for an incident that happened while we were at the fair. I talked my mother-in-law into getting on this really scary looking ride with me. It's been SO long since I had been at an amusement park of any kind and this fair had over 40 rides....I was in heaven!! Anyway, we got on, but I could tell right away that it was NOT going to be comfortable because of my size. The seat was way too narrow and when the thingy came over my head in order to lock me in my seat, it wouldn't go in far enough to lock. So, the guy in charge was looking around at all of us and approached a couple people and pushed really hard against this bar....and then he came to me. He pushed three times and I thought he was going to crush my ribs (and my boobs! haha) it hurt so bad. Anyway, long story short, he did this 3 separate times and no matter how hard he pushed, it kept coming undone and so he told me that I had to get off.....in front of all those people who knew why. I was mortified. This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me and I swear it will be the last.
7 October 2002
Oct 07, 2002
Well, I've done it!! I've graduated from my Associates program at AIU! This is such an accomplishment in my life....you'll never know. I'm so excited and proud of myself. Although individual grades have been posted, final grades have not so I'm not sure what my GPA will be. I made an 88% in Biology and a 99% in Sociology. Right now my GPA is 3.93, so I'm hoping it will at least stay the same. If it does, that means I graduate Suma Cum Laude. Cool huh? I can't wait to get my degree on paper. I'm going to hang it above my computer! lol
Now I can do some things that I have wanted to do such as update my site, do some sewing, some psp'ing, some baking (yummm)....lots of neat stuff. I picked up a quilting project last night that I started when I was pregnant with Jared....and he'll be 7 years old in January. Sad huh? And I got quite a bit done in just a short amount of time. If I'd done that 7 years ago when I started it, I would have had it done in one night....ONE NIGHT! LOL I am such a procrastinator about some stuff.
OH...update on my brother's situation. He went to court and was fully prepared to represent himself. Here was his kids, his mother-in-law...his sister-in-law....their attorney...all sitting on the other side and on his side there was him, his wife and our mother. Mom was going to testify on his behalf, and I had written a letter on his behalf and emailed it to him the night before. Anyway, he asked for a continuance so that he might have a chance to secure an attorney and lo and behold the judge said yes! So, passing through the Lake area on their way home, they thought they'd give this attorney another try. They had contacted him before, but asked for $3000 dollars up front....a sum my brother did not have. Curt got him down to $1000....but could not get the money in time for court, which is why he was representing himself. Anyway, they stopped off to talk to him feeling like if they could see him face-to-face, that he'd give them a break and help them. They were right and he said he would!! Isn't that great?? After going over everything that has been happening, he said that he'd start doing his homework so Curt and Tammy could breathe easier. I'm sure they're going to win....and Tammy's family is going to be sorry they messed with them!
Now I can do some things that I have wanted to do such as update my site, do some sewing, some psp'ing, some baking (yummm)....lots of neat stuff. I picked up a quilting project last night that I started when I was pregnant with Jared....and he'll be 7 years old in January. Sad huh? And I got quite a bit done in just a short amount of time. If I'd done that 7 years ago when I started it, I would have had it done in one night....ONE NIGHT! LOL I am such a procrastinator about some stuff.
OH...update on my brother's situation. He went to court and was fully prepared to represent himself. Here was his kids, his mother-in-law...his sister-in-law....their attorney...all sitting on the other side and on his side there was him, his wife and our mother. Mom was going to testify on his behalf, and I had written a letter on his behalf and emailed it to him the night before. Anyway, he asked for a continuance so that he might have a chance to secure an attorney and lo and behold the judge said yes! So, passing through the Lake area on their way home, they thought they'd give this attorney another try. They had contacted him before, but asked for $3000 dollars up front....a sum my brother did not have. Curt got him down to $1000....but could not get the money in time for court, which is why he was representing himself. Anyway, they stopped off to talk to him feeling like if they could see him face-to-face, that he'd give them a break and help them. They were right and he said he would!! Isn't that great?? After going over everything that has been happening, he said that he'd start doing his homework so Curt and Tammy could breathe easier. I'm sure they're going to win....and Tammy's family is going to be sorry they messed with them!
29 September 2002
Sep 29, 2002
There are a couple of things that have happened to me in my personal life that is really exciting that I haven't mentioned, up till now, in my journal. The first that happened was sometime in the beginning of July, (or maybe it was the end of June ....I can't remember). Anyway, my mom called to tell me that she and her husband were eating at Shoney's one night and in the middle of dinner this woman came up to her and said, "are you Judy?" "yes." It turned out to be Pam Pettis (now Crum) who was my best friend as a kid! We had lost touch about 10 years ago and she had been trying to find me for 5 of those years. We were 14 when we met...at Youth for Christ in Sedalia (my home town), when I came there to sing. We were never apart after that. We shared so much and went through so much together. Anyway, it's been so good to be in touch again! She is a new mama of identical twin boys that are SO cute! When I get pictures, I'll have to put them on my photos page. She's also in the computer field and has a Master's degree...I'm so proud of her! She's happily married to someone other than the guy she was with last time we spoke and I'm happy that she's happy.
The other thing that happened to me....well, when my mom married her current husband, my brother was not too thrilled (looooong story) and just disappeared from our lives. That was over 7 years ago. Jared will be 7 this next January and I don't think I've spoken to Curt (my brother) since before I got pregnant with him. Anyway, I'm sure there are other reasons (on top of the one we already know) he left, but we didn't know them at the time. Well, on the 12th of July this year, my mom called telling me that Curt called....just out of the blue! I was floored. I was actually speechless and that doesn't happen very often! Haha Anyway, he came back in a whirlwind of problems that are still plaguing him. His wife's sister is trying to take their kids from them. I know what Tammy is going through....it happened to me. Thank GOD they didn't succeed, but I know the anguish you go through wondering if you'll ever see them again. Curt and Tammy were finally able to get an attorney and from what he has heard, he says it's a no-brainer. Tammy and her siblings were practically raised in the back of a car.....which was parked at the local bar. She remembers falling asleep on the floor many times in front of the jukebox at bars that her mother went to. Eventually, her mother put them in foster care. It's a sad story. This is what I know....imagine the the things that have happened to her that I don't know. Well, to make a long story shorter, her mother is now helping her sister (half at that) try to take her kids from her! AND THE COURT IS GOING ALONG WITH IT!!! Can you imagine a screwed up system letting a drunk take two kids from a good mother?? It's because the "trial" is taking place in Podunk USA and this is the biggest thing to hit that county in a hundred years. Not only is Tammy's mom a drunk, but her current husband is also a drunk and they fight like cats and dogs. Curt said that the last few times they saw her she was all wrapped in ace bandages from the bruises. Darla, the sister, has 4 kids of her own that she didn't raise, yet she wants to help raise Tammy's kids. Darla's ex fought her for custody and WON, and then had to fight her for another 7 years for child support....and won that too....after she was thrown in jail! What a family. Till next time....
The other thing that happened to me....well, when my mom married her current husband, my brother was not too thrilled (looooong story) and just disappeared from our lives. That was over 7 years ago. Jared will be 7 this next January and I don't think I've spoken to Curt (my brother) since before I got pregnant with him. Anyway, I'm sure there are other reasons (on top of the one we already know) he left, but we didn't know them at the time. Well, on the 12th of July this year, my mom called telling me that Curt called....just out of the blue! I was floored. I was actually speechless and that doesn't happen very often! Haha Anyway, he came back in a whirlwind of problems that are still plaguing him. His wife's sister is trying to take their kids from them. I know what Tammy is going through....it happened to me. Thank GOD they didn't succeed, but I know the anguish you go through wondering if you'll ever see them again. Curt and Tammy were finally able to get an attorney and from what he has heard, he says it's a no-brainer. Tammy and her siblings were practically raised in the back of a car.....which was parked at the local bar. She remembers falling asleep on the floor many times in front of the jukebox at bars that her mother went to. Eventually, her mother put them in foster care. It's a sad story. This is what I know....imagine the the things that have happened to her that I don't know. Well, to make a long story shorter, her mother is now helping her sister (half at that) try to take her kids from her! AND THE COURT IS GOING ALONG WITH IT!!! Can you imagine a screwed up system letting a drunk take two kids from a good mother?? It's because the "trial" is taking place in Podunk USA and this is the biggest thing to hit that county in a hundred years. Not only is Tammy's mom a drunk, but her current husband is also a drunk and they fight like cats and dogs. Curt said that the last few times they saw her she was all wrapped in ace bandages from the bruises. Darla, the sister, has 4 kids of her own that she didn't raise, yet she wants to help raise Tammy's kids. Darla's ex fought her for custody and WON, and then had to fight her for another 7 years for child support....and won that too....after she was thrown in jail! What a family. Till next time....
23 September 2002
Sep 23, 2002
Well, looks like I'm going to have to go through the 12 weeks of diet attempts to be approved...and let's just hope they approve after that instead of coming up with yet another stall tactic. I have been reading some real horror stories about Cigna. don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful that I have insurance. It seemed like forever since I went to the doctor or gyn or anything like that..so I'm not complaining. But everywhere I go I hear, "you have Cigna?!...oh no!" It's like the sentence of death or something! haha When I went to the GYN earlier this month, he said that Cigna regularly waits at least 90 days before paying even the smallest thing. What a pain!
Anyway, I have been calling everywhere that I have been in the past that I knew of where I had records and no one can help me. Weight Watchers don't keep records unless you become a lifetime member, and one doctor that had given me medication has died and the office destroyed all the records that were not picked up. Well dang-it! I knew I should have made a point of forwarding all my addresses for the last 10 years....just in case somebody croaked or something! Yeah right. The other medication I took when we lived in Germany so...nuff said about that. So, I made about 3 calls to Cigna and finally got to talk to someone who was willing to help me. Her name is Bernice and she knew Joyce from Dr. Duncan's office and told me that I would probably have to do the diet thing. Well, my pcp's office has been telling me that "they don't usually do that kind of thing." WHAT?! I thought that is why they call him a PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN .....because he is the doctor who takes care of me. I told her...look, just put me on the diet so I can come in every month to weigh. That's all they want. Just for me to be monitored by my physician. Finally yesterday she agreed. So this means that I won't go to Weight Watchers, I'll just be on this diet the doctor gave me and the best thing is ....since it was mailed on the 11th of September, my start date can begin from there and that means I have only 10.5 weeks to go!
Anyway, I have been calling everywhere that I have been in the past that I knew of where I had records and no one can help me. Weight Watchers don't keep records unless you become a lifetime member, and one doctor that had given me medication has died and the office destroyed all the records that were not picked up. Well dang-it! I knew I should have made a point of forwarding all my addresses for the last 10 years....just in case somebody croaked or something! Yeah right. The other medication I took when we lived in Germany so...nuff said about that. So, I made about 3 calls to Cigna and finally got to talk to someone who was willing to help me. Her name is Bernice and she knew Joyce from Dr. Duncan's office and told me that I would probably have to do the diet thing. Well, my pcp's office has been telling me that "they don't usually do that kind of thing." WHAT?! I thought that is why they call him a PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN .....because he is the doctor who takes care of me. I told her...look, just put me on the diet so I can come in every month to weigh. That's all they want. Just for me to be monitored by my physician. Finally yesterday she agreed. So this means that I won't go to Weight Watchers, I'll just be on this diet the doctor gave me and the best thing is ....since it was mailed on the 11th of September, my start date can begin from there and that means I have only 10.5 weeks to go!
10 September 2002
Sep 10, 2002
Yesterday I got a call from Dr. Duncan's office telling me that Cigna denied me on the basis that I have not had any recent "physician supervised diets". So, I called my PCP's office and told them what's going on. Joyce, at Dr. D's, said that I would need to be on a diet for at least 90 days before we could re-submit. *sigh* So, I guess that's what I'll do. I'm disappointed, but I've waited this long....won't hurt to wait some more.
I read some AWFUL news last weekend! The surgeon I was going to use in Florida (Dr. Trivedi) has quit practicing and is moving back up north to New Jersey. He may even be gone already. Apparently, one of his patients died after some complications with her intestines getting twisted. How sad is that?! She was a mother with 3 children. I read this on a profile at the AMOS site and the story I read was that she had been telling him something was wrong and he passed it off until it was too late. I'm so thankful that I didn't have my surgery with him! I know things can happen anywhere, but it sounds like he was just neglectful and everything does happen for a reason. There was a reason that I moved here and didn't go to him. If I had just been a few weeks earlier with getting in to see him, I might have already had my surgery and now that I am here, if something were to happen to me, I wouldn't know what to do.
I've also had some personal things going on in my life that have me upset. I'm trying to just forget the whole thing, but it's not easy. Basically, my husband has been charged with stalking! Since he works on computers and is the "troubleshooter" for Charter's cable modems, he gets lots of calls and works mostly inside people's houses. Well, this lady called about problems with her computer back in the beginning of July and they sent my husband....luck of the draw I guess. Anyway, he is the type of person who goes out of their way to help when someone needs help and this lady and her boyfriend were having problems with their email...setting it up...getting their mail...getting and staying online...etc. and so he went out there several times to try and solve the problem, which, by the way, he does with all his customers. As a matter of fact, so does the rest of the guys that he works with! It's called "courtesy". Well, she interpreted his friendliness for flirting and believes he has a "crush" on her and filed a restraining order against him!! I couldn't believe it! Anyone who knows my husband knows that he is just not that kind of person. By the way....this chick is like 50. HELLOOOO?! Why would he be interested in some wrinkled up old lady? Anyway, we went to court today for the hearing so the judge could decide whether or not to issue the restraining order. She decided NOT....which means WE WON!!! According to Georgia law, skalking is defined as someone who is intentionally trying to harrass or intimidate you...and these acts of harrassment have to make you fearful for your life. He was doing his job for goodness sake! Anyway, the judge saw through it and now it's over. What a relief! You know what they say.............in every situation there has to a be a L O S E R.......and she was none too happy that she lost either LOL. (Do I sound just a little TOO happy?? HAHA)
I read some AWFUL news last weekend! The surgeon I was going to use in Florida (Dr. Trivedi) has quit practicing and is moving back up north to New Jersey. He may even be gone already. Apparently, one of his patients died after some complications with her intestines getting twisted. How sad is that?! She was a mother with 3 children. I read this on a profile at the AMOS site and the story I read was that she had been telling him something was wrong and he passed it off until it was too late. I'm so thankful that I didn't have my surgery with him! I know things can happen anywhere, but it sounds like he was just neglectful and everything does happen for a reason. There was a reason that I moved here and didn't go to him. If I had just been a few weeks earlier with getting in to see him, I might have already had my surgery and now that I am here, if something were to happen to me, I wouldn't know what to do.
I've also had some personal things going on in my life that have me upset. I'm trying to just forget the whole thing, but it's not easy. Basically, my husband has been charged with stalking! Since he works on computers and is the "troubleshooter" for Charter's cable modems, he gets lots of calls and works mostly inside people's houses. Well, this lady called about problems with her computer back in the beginning of July and they sent my husband....luck of the draw I guess. Anyway, he is the type of person who goes out of their way to help when someone needs help and this lady and her boyfriend were having problems with their email...setting it up...getting their mail...getting and staying online...etc. and so he went out there several times to try and solve the problem, which, by the way, he does with all his customers. As a matter of fact, so does the rest of the guys that he works with! It's called "courtesy". Well, she interpreted his friendliness for flirting and believes he has a "crush" on her and filed a restraining order against him!! I couldn't believe it! Anyone who knows my husband knows that he is just not that kind of person. By the way....this chick is like 50. HELLOOOO?! Why would he be interested in some wrinkled up old lady? Anyway, we went to court today for the hearing so the judge could decide whether or not to issue the restraining order. She decided NOT....which means WE WON!!! According to Georgia law, skalking is defined as someone who is intentionally trying to harrass or intimidate you...and these acts of harrassment have to make you fearful for your life. He was doing his job for goodness sake! Anyway, the judge saw through it and now it's over. What a relief! You know what they say.............in every situation there has to a be a L O S E R.......and she was none too happy that she lost either LOL. (Do I sound just a little TOO happy?? HAHA)
27 August 2002
Aug 27, 2002
Well, today was my psych eval at Dr. Gary Santivicca's office. He is the one Dr. Duncan's office refers for this particular test. After the results are forwarded to Joyce at Dr. D's office, she will then send the entire packet (that also includes a LOMN from my PCP) to Cigna. Dr. Santavicca said it normally takes his office 2 days to do that, but if not, a week at the most. So, I'm trying, in the meantime, to wait patiently! I have started to have worries about Cigna. According to Dr. Santavicca, Cigna is not very pleasent to deal with. He said at one time they were not approving the surgery AT ALL, but then someone who used to weigh a LOT came in looking svelte and healthy and BAM!! Suddenly, they're for the surgery!! LOL I don't care what happened, as long as they approve me!! In the beginning, I told God that if this is what he wanted for me, then it would all turn out. So, that is what I am believing in. Till next time.....Jeralyn
15 August 2002
Aug 15, 2002
My husband and I drove to Atlanta today for my 12:30pm appointment at Dr. Duncan's office. Actually, it was a class. There were about 10 of us. Most of the time there are only about 3-5 people, so they were all pleased to see such a good turn-out. It turns out that I have the most knowledge about WLS and have been researching longer than anyone that attended the meeting. We discussed a number of things that the others were not aware of and in the end, exchanged email addresses. I'm very excited to have helped someone in this way and have now been thinking of starting a support group here in Gainesville for people just like me who are seeing a surgeon who is not in their immediate area, but need somewhere to go for support. So, please keep me in mind about that :-)
12 August 2002
Aug 12, 2002
Today I had my appointment with my future PCP. I got very lucky and found him on the first try! I called The Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville (they have the BEST healthcare facilities and doctors) and asked about Dr. Phillip Marler. His was the first name in the book under that clinic and I was determined to go through them all till I found one who was WLS-friendly! Anyway, I found out from the receptionist, that he has about 15 patients that he has referred for WLS. Most of those (if not all) have been referred to Dr. Proctor and has BC/BS so I was his first CIGNA patient requesting someone other than the local WL surgeon :-) This appointment went very well. We talked about the labs that his office would need to order for me in the future and he seems to be savvy about those issues. I feel so blessed to have found him! Before I left, his office assured me that they would fax the referral before my consultation date with Dr. Duncan's office on the 15th.
About Me
Columbia, MO
Location
21.8
BMI
Surgery
05/19/2003
Surgery Date
Oct 04, 2001
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
Caleb's Graduation!! He's going to GA Tech this fall!
131#lbs
