lizzielizard20
01/16/06 Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great and safe holiday season. I always mean to update but man do I hate to type. Our wedding last May was beautiful and everything was just as i imagined it would be. Actually, it was better than that because I never thought I would get married so I really had no idea what I wanted until it was time for preparations to be made. The colors were lilac and white, we each had 8 attendants, we were married in a Presbyterian Church that is over 100 years old and my great-great-great grandparents were the first couple married in, my parents went all out for the reception at a hotel, and then we took a cruise to the western caribbean for our honeymoon. It was quite a whirlwind experience and i will try to remember to post up a wedding pic sometime. :)
Less than two months till my 3 year anniversary and i am happy to say that I have stabilized between 140 and 145. People say that I look like I weigh less than that so I say it's extra skin, which probably contributes to, like 10 pounds, lol.
Even though I stabilized, I will be gaining a few (more like 20) pounds in the upcoming months because we found out last month that I am pregnant. I really wanted to be married for atleast a year before we even discussed kids, but that is life and we are happy about the upcoming baby. I am 11 weeks and haven't had any morning sickness, thank God (knock on wood) but I have been utterly exhausted to the point where I sleep 10 to 12 hours a day, and I have the driest cracked skin that no human being should ever have. I'll be updating a little more frequently since I will be taking some time off from work but I have to go because I am craving some grapes and cherries like you wouldn't believe!
01/22/05 Some exciting news.... I am engaged!! Dan asked me last month at the park while we were sitting in Santa's sleigh and enjoying the Christmas lights. It was absolutely perfect! We were going to wait a full year and have a December wedding but I couldn't stand to wait, lol! We are getting married on May 7th of this year. That's my parent's anniversary so it is really special to me. Talk to you guys later and Happy New Year!
12/08/04 Happy Holidays to everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in awhile.... okay, make that 8 months. Oops! I have a question for all of you post-oppers out there:
Did anybody need to see a pysciatrist or a psycologist after thier surgery because of weight-related/psycological issues? Just wondering because I did. I didn't have any problems with food, but with dealing with this new image of myself. It's hard to explain and I almost fealt like I was becoming really depressed and I just hated feeling like that. I have been to a support group session and I fealt like I didn't even fit in there. Too cliquey, and nobody seemed to really talk about thier post-op experiences. Maybe it's because everyone knew each other and had already heard their stories. I just know that it was a little uncomfortable and I probably wont be going back but we'll see.
I have kind of taken this past semester off from school and from singing. I started out taking classes and I just couldn't deal with it, which really made me realize that there was something wrong. These past few months have helped me to think about things, so I went to my voice lesson this week and I am happy to say that I will be continuing voice next semester. It was so nice to see my voice teacher! She gave me a huge hug and said she was glad to see me and that she understood that we all need a break sometimes. The cool thing is since we have Christmas break, I'll have a month to learn my songs, lol.
I swear this is going to be the poorest Christmas for me. I feel so bad because I love to shop for people and I love to see the looks on thier faces when whoever it is is opening a gift from me. We always have huge Christmases at my parent's house and then we go up to my sister's and spend the rest of the morning up there. It's going to be a Dollar Tree Christmas!! LOL
My boyfriend and I are going to be at my parents for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning and then we are driving back home and Ethan will be here then. We are hosting Christmas Day dinner for our combined families (My family's driving over early in the afternoon and staying the night) so it should be really fun! I am really excited about having everyone over together, I'm just trying to figure out what to cook and when to cook it. Maybe pizza? Lol, just kidding, it's going to be a full spread! Although pizza would be cheaper, lol.
Alright, I'm off to attempt some more decorations. Hopefully I'll be posting a new pic soon. Happy Holidays to everyone!
04/28/04 Helllllooooo! Spring has sprung and it has been absolutely beautiful around here. We've been going to the beach a lot and I have been trying to work on my tan because I think my saggy body looks much better when it's not snow white, lol. Last time we went I actually wore my bathing suit into the water, without a cover-up or anything! And it was a two piece. STOP! Did Hell just freeze over? Did Liz really wear a two piece suit to the beach, in public? Yes I did! Flappy upper thighs and saggy batwing arms and all and I didn't give a shit about what anyone thought because I deserve to be comfortable with what I wear and have a great time with my family.
It feels so good to be free finally. To not have this cloak of fat surrounding me anymore. People look and treat me very different now, and I think I look at people and treat them differently as well. I'm almost more defensive than I used to be with people, because I hate that NOW people notice me and want to talk to me and all I can think of is If they had met me a year ago they would have either A) laughed at me B)Ignored me C)Act very rude towards me D)Pittied me. So, I guess you can tell that I haven't cared to make any new friends, lol. It's probably not very good for my emotional and mental state of mind to be like this so I was thinking about going to therapy or like a support group or something. Has anyone else been a year post-op and had to go to therapy to deal with weight issues? I would be able to get a lot of past aggression and stuff like that out. But I'm not crazy! :)
I keep thinking that my weight is going to stabilize but I seam to still be losing; about 2 lbs a month. I weighed 133 yesterday, which about caused me to choke on my gum when I read the scale, lol. What kind of freaks me out is I have about 15-20 lbs of excess skin that needs to be removed, and once it is removed my actual weight will only be about 113-118 and my surgeon told me not to go below 115. Should I gauge it by that? I know I have lost a lot of muscle mass and I have got to start some sort of exercise program to build up my muscles again. Walking only does so much, lol. My mom did my measurements a few weeks ago and I have lost a total of 94 inches!! Most of it was in my thighs and breasts, but I still have huge thighs and now I have no boobs, lol. Seriously, no boobs!! That is the first thing on the plastic surgery agenda; breast lift and implants, and then my inner thighs, followed by my stomach and then my upper arms. By the time I have enough money saved for all of it I'll be old enough for a face lift! lol
Get this.... I'm smaller than my sister and just about the same size as my niece! My sister has always been the beautiful blonde, blue-eyed, busty and thin chick in our family. What I love is that she is so happy for me and she was the one who told me about gastric bypass and pushed me along to do it. I know my family has always been proud of me, but It's different when they smile at me and look at me now. It's almost like they respect me now or aren't embaressed, does that make sense? It's kind of sad actually, but I'm happy to see thier reactions to me. Maybe it's the fact that I accomplished something and am happy with the results? I don't know. Happy/Sad, lol.
I hope all of you have a wonderful spring and keep those allergies at bay!! :)
01/28/04 Howdy everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful New Year so far. Would someone please slap some sense into me and explain why I signed up for 20 credits this semester? I figured since I didn't have a job that I would try to get in as much school time as I could. Yeah, that was a great idea but not when you are taking 2 stupid Gordon Rule classes, an express Biology class and all of my music classes, which includes the everydayat9amclass that is Music Theory. BAH!!!! Lol, I know, it's not that bad, it could be a hell of a lot worse but I like to complain. ;)
Weightloss has been ok. I'm still losing I think, unless my scale is off. I stepped on it the other day and it said 139(!) so that's why I think it's off. My clothes aren't really any looser, and it's really hard to tell with all of this gross saggy skin. I look at myself in the mirror and all I see is this grotesquely odd looking body; cellulite surrounding my legs and thighs, saggy wrinkled skin on my thighs, stomache and arms; I'm a walking stretch mark and I haven't even had kids yet! My legs are just repulsive, really. Vericose veins, stretch marks, and lots of little yellow bruises because I am a clumsy oaf and I bruise really easily. And I have NO BOOBS!!! What the hell?? I have always had very large breasts, even when I lost 40 or 50 lbs. Now I have none. WTF? I need boobs to even out my fat ass. I really want to get a breast augmentation and I'll probably have to get a lift too. As soon as I get a good job with good insurance I'm definitely going to look into getting them done. I know that insurance wouldn't pay for implants but I think I could get them to pay for a lift because I still can't wear a bra that gives proper support. BAH! I realllly need to start working out (I say that everytime, don't I?)because I know I have lost some muscle mass. My boyfriend and I keep saying we are going to play tennis and raquetball but we can't ever find the time to do it. Usually when we can we are about to eat dinner, lol. That's funny how it all still comes back to food with me.
Sorry for the rant, I've just been holding in a lot of this weightloss crap. I have to get to the bank but I'll update more later. Take care!
01/06/04 Hey you guys. I just wanted to let you all know I updated my after pic. Now it's a picture of my boyfriend and I on New Year's Eve. I love this picture and it looks so good of the two of us, even though you can hardly see our faces but you can really feel the chemistry and the connection between us. Talk to you guys later!
01/05/04 Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone partied hard and stayed safe because I know I did! So much has happened in the last three weeks it's almost unbelievable. My life just seams to be falling into place if that makes any sense. Everything is going right and in the back of my head I keep waiting for something bad to happen, for that other shoe to drop. The only bad thing that happened is that I don't have any insurance because I lost my job. I could really give a shit about the job but I get a little worried when I don't have health insurance. I am hoping to get back on my mother's insurance plan but if that doesn't work I might have to pay out the ass for cobra but we shall see. I have to stay healthy! :) I still need to have my bloodwork updated and I plan on doing that this week, hopefully. So now I'm searching for a job that fits into my school schedule, which is kind of difficult. Bah!
Guess who can wear a size 9 in juniors? ME!!! Insane!! This a bad thing because all I ever do is try to find jeans that fit well, lol. My 13 year old neice came down for the weekend and BORROWED MY PANTS to wear to a wedding. They were a little baggy on her but they still fit! I think she was happy for me but a little peeved because she can wear my clothes and vice versa, lol. Hahaha I love it. Oh yeah, that updated full-size picture doesn't look as good as I thought it would. I still have big hips but damn, they look so unproportioned in that pic. I also look like a midget. Not that there is anything wrong with midgets or anything! I just have extremely short legs. I might have to re-send another one that I am much happier with but I wanted all of you to see my progress.
I start back to Opera Tampa tonight, which should be interesting and boring at the same time, lol. I can finally start The Mozart Effect (a book) tonight since I'm sure the women will be having a lot of down time, and then I'm off to my boyfriend's house. Oh yes, did I mention I met the man of my dreams? Seriously, this guy is perfect for me. Tall, dark hair, glasses, brown eyes, good-looking, funny and a heart of gold. I found a winner, and I'm keeping him!! What's funny is that he is probably reading this right now! Lol
I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year and that all of your hopes and dreams are ful-filled. I know mine are well on their way. :)
12/19/03 Just a quick update about my visit with Dr. Overcash: I weighed in at 146 lbs. and he has released me from his care. 146 is way better than I expected! So I have lost 111 lbs. He's happy with my progress, wrote a prescription for me to make sure I get my bloodwork done and says to call if I get below 115 lbs. I'm happy! I'm off to clean my house... should be fun, lol. If I don't update soon, please have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)
12/18/03 Hello to all! I hope everyone is having a very happy holiday season this year. I just returned from skiing in Whistler, Canada and I am so bruised! My upper legs and knees are aching but it's a good ache, lol. I could never have gone skiing before so I look at the bruises as a reminder that I CAN do things just like normal people. Normal. Now that is an odd word. I am so happy to finally be "normal" by weight standards but the funny thing is that I am so not normal. It's now easier for me to be myself and let go now that I am "normal". Lol.
Speaking of letting go, I broke up with my boy-friend about a month ago. So now I guess I'm one of "those" WLS patients whose relationship has ended as a result of having had surgery. Shit, the surgery is what gave me the courage to end it; because I was so comfortable I probably would have just stayed with him, unhappy and depressed. He pretty much feels the same way so at least it's a mutual understanding and I don't feel like a complete ass (just a half-ass, lol). Ah well, you live and you learn.
I weigh in with Dr. Overcash tomorrow afternoon. It's my long overdue 6-month-turned-into-9-month follow up visit. I know, that's pretty bad and I feel bad because I should have made the appt. much much sooner but better late than never! I have been weighing about 148/149 for the last week so that means I have lost almost 110 lbs.!! Insane. Me? In the 140's? It's unreal. I said when I got to 150 that I would bleach my hair and dye it platinum blonde and I have yet to do that. I think 150 was the unattainable goal so I figured it would never happen. Should I do it? I'm seriously thinking about it. It would be funny, lol.
I'm now wearing a junior 11/12 (!) and medium tops. I still can't find skirts or dresses that look good because of my short legs. It's always something! Lol.
I am posting a new full length pic of me at 149 lbs. It's a little dark and it's not the best angle but it'll do. I'll update again after I visit with Dr. Overcash. Ya'll have a nice weekend! :)
11/19/03 Hey you guys! I hope everyone is doing well! I can't freakin' wait till this semester is over!!! I need a break! Thank God I have five days off next week for Thanksgiving. I just want to go home, hang out with my family and veg out. I am making home made pumpkin pie, home made pecan pie and home made macaroni and cheese....hmmmm. I may not be able to eat any of it but it'll be fun to make!! :)
I started Opera Tampa last week and this year's production is going to be a lot of work. We are doing Turandot and the music is absolutely gorgeous! I hadn't seen anyone since mid-April and were they shocked to see me!! It was surreal at times but it was interesting to see thier reactions. Funny, the women who barely payed attention to me were sweet as pie, and a few of the guys were soooooo much nicer. It's really sad that I had to lose weight for them to even notice I exist. Whatever.
I have lost 101 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I weigh 156 as of Monday! This is off of my bathroom scale and I still need to visit Dr. Overcash again so I can see if it is official from his scale. I have NEVER been in the 150's!!!! Freaking unreal!!! Size 14's are really loose on me and I can wear some 12's. I actually have a pair of 13/14 junior's jeans from Express! And they fit so good I wear them all the time. I can wear some mediums in tops but usually they are too tight around the hips and arms. My bra size is a 36 C/D, I think but I still wear my 38 D/DD's that are huge on me. I seriously need to buy a few new bra's. I think I might do that tomorrow because it is getting really bad!!
If anybody has any information about plastic surgery for post-op's, could you please email me? I am really starting to look into plastic surgery options and any information would be great. Surgeons, costs, types of surgery, the pain factor, etc... I am really looking into gettiing a lower body lift, or at least my inner thighs done. Thanks in advance!! :) Well, I'm off to study for a quiz tomorrow so I'll talk to you all later! Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
09/25/03 I just updated (the dates are different because now it's 12:30am....I try to be accurate,lol.) and as I was putting in my new weight I noticed that my BMI is now in the "moderately over-weight" catergory! I just thought it was to cool and I had to post about it. :)
09/24/03 Hellooooo everyone!!! It's been kinda crazy 'round these parts since school started. The good thing is that it keeps me very busy and I am always on the go! The bad part is that I always want a nap, lol.
I am officially out of my skinny clothes! They are either too big for me or just don't fit the way they used to (I guess my body mass/weight/whatever has shifted because they used to fit great!) I am officially in regular size 14's!!!! Like, misses and department store 14's!!!! What sucks is that two weeks ago I spent $150.00 in Lane Bryant on much needed lingerie and a pair of size 14 jeans that are now too big for me. I should have waited for my little plateu to pass! But then again, you never know when they ARE going to pass, am I right? :) No more Lane Bryant! Though I have yet to step into one of those junior-size stores for fear that nothing will fit. I might wait a few more weeks and then venture out into the unknown, lol.
I weighed in this morning right between 169lbs. and 170lbs., so we'll just take the 169 thankyouverymuch. 169lbs.!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the last time I weighed this weight I was about 14 or 15!! I have now lost almost 90lbs. That is just too cool. Yes, I think I can definitly be at 100lbs. lost by Christmas. Now THAT would be a great Christmas present! Ya'll have a nice weekend and I'll update again soon!! :)
08/13/03 I am such a slacker!!! Sorry for such a slow update but I am a pretty lazy girl. I have had so many things happen this summer but first things first, the weightloss: I was at 5 months post-op 2 days ago and I weighed in at 180 lbs. So that's almost a weightloss of 80lbs. Hey that works for me!! I am now wearing loose 16's and will probably be in 14's in a few weeks. Regular sizes so now I can shop anywhere!! My credit cards hate me, lol. My skin is sooooo loose and saggy because I haven't worked out. A note to all of you newbies out there: WORK OUT!! It will help the sagging skin. It would be more acceptable if I were older but I'm only 23 and I really need to work on tightening my skin. (That sounds so grotesque to me, lol)
My ass is still huge but I doubt that will ever change, lol. Seriously we are talking biggo butto!!
I took a 5 day cruise with my father and my neice in June which was great! I didn't really have any problems eating, I just ate a few bites of each course at dinner and that worked well for me. I was able to eat what everybody else was eating but without having to gorge myself, as I was wont to do on prior cruises. I did have one episode of dumping syndrome but that passed by after I layed down for a little while. I haven't thrown up in months and sometimes it feels like I may have already stretched my stomache a bit, so I am trying to be more careful about not drinking with my meals.
I also just got back from a trip to NY City! I went with my best friend and two of my other friends and we had a blast! I definitely want to go back again very soon! We walked all over the city and hardly used the subway. We walked so much that I lost 4 lbs while I was up there! That was nice to come home to :).
I posted an updated face pic from about a month ago. Hopefully I'll get the chance to update with a full body shot. Ya'll take care and I'll try to do better about updating my profile. Have a safe summer, or what's left of it. :)
05/11/03 Hello everyone! Man, does time fly or what? Weightloss has been good; slow but good none the less. I still have to check in with Dr. O for my 6 week follow up(which is now going to be an 8 week follow up because I always seem to schedule myself for the wrong times! Seriously, I have already had to reschedule 3 times but I plan on making my monday appt.) I really don't want to give a loss in lbs. number until I see Dr. O's scale, because I don't want to assume. I do know that I am down 2 full sizes( from a tight 24 to a 20!) and I am seeing significant changes in my body, especially in my face, lower arms, chest, back and waist. Those love handles are almost gone! Still squishy skin but at least it doesn't all hang out in a roll, lol. Now if I could just lose a little more in my butt and thighs. *sigh* I have lost a whole lot in my chest. I went from a 42 DDD to a 38D. At least now I can wear my old comfy bra's. Ok, maybe not comfy but you get the idea.
The eating thing is cool, I just have to watch to make sure that I eat my protein first. I am also having a hard time drinking with my meals. I find that I basically eat the same amount when I drink with my meals as to when I don't. Not that I drink a lot, just maybe half a glass of ice water but I am going to try to wean myself out of it because I know it's a no-no. I haven't started working out but I plan to start after my follow-up visit.
Off of weighty issues, I just moved into my house! I was going to have a roommate but that fell through but more on that later. I mowed my yard today and it was great to be able to mow MY OWN yard. It is the cutest little place and the kitties love it. My family came up for the weekend, and my sis and I are fixing brunch on Mother's Day. Should be tasty! Allrigthy, well I'll write more soon. Ya'll have a nice weekend!
04/13/03 Sorry for such a late update but I just dread typing, lol. Well, the weigh-in with Dr. Overcash was on 03/25, a few days early thank God, and I had lost 14lbs, so that's about a pound a day. I think I have lost close to 30 so far, and I am down 1 size. I know I have already started to slow down because I can feel it and I am also starting solid food. Once I can start walking and exercising I know the weight will come off much faster but I literally have no time to work out this month. May will be much more calmer so that's when I intend to work on working out. :) I am so excited because I am moving into a house! I will be able to have a music/workout room which is what I really need. No more nosy neighbors!
03/21/03 I really thought this surgery was going to be a lot harder to deal with. I thought the pain was going to be horrendous, the recovery be unbearable, and the hospital care be intolerable. It has not been like that at all, obviously. The pain was nothing like I thought it was going to be (now the morphine pump DID help:) ) I think I fealt the most pain on the third day when they took the pump out and my body had to adjust to the pills. I was on Percocet for a few days until it started giving me night terrors - seriously, I had dreams that I was a murderer and killed my friends and family!! I would rather deal with some minor pain then have to deal with that again. Instead, I started taking Tahitian Noni Juice, about 4 ounces a day and I really feel that that has helped my healng process towards such a quick recovery.
I really do not feel like I had major surgery. I went into the hospital on Tues.(03/11), came home on Fri. and I went to the grocery store that night with my mom and walked the entire store. The next day I went shopping and on Sun. I did errands with my mom. I was ready to go back to school but I couldn't drive for a few more days. Everyone I have talked to is amazed at my quick recovery, especially since I had an open RNY. I am glad to have had this surgery while I am still young and relatively healthy.
The worst part right now are these damn staples. I have 12 of them and there are about 3 of them that rub against each other when I sit down ad they pull at my skin. I started bleeding a little bit last night from one of the staple punctures because it was ripping my skin into the incision. I fastened a bandage with some surgical tape to prevent it from tearing but we shall see how good that will hold. I am supposed to have them out on the 28th but I might call and see if I can come in sooner.
The hospital care at Ocala Regional Medical Center was fantastic!! The nurses were very attentive and so sweet and I truly fealt cared for. And Dr. Overcash is a great surgeon, as well as his nurse, Madelyn who is very nice. It always makes a patient feel good when their nurse or doctor always greets them with a smile.
I weighed myself yesterday at my friend's work where they have a doctor's scale; it said I had lost 11 lbs., so that's a pound a day. It could have been more, I just need to work on getting all of my fluids in. I will update my weightloss after my official weigh-in at Dr. Overcash's office. Well you all have a great weekend and I'll write much more later!!
03/15/03 Hey you guys!! I'm home and doing fantastic! I will update more in the next few days but I wanted to thank everyone who sent me get well wishes; I truly appreciate it and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Nothing helps the healing process like a lot of support and understanding.
03/10/03 It's 3:30 in the morning and I just cannot sleep. In less than 30 hours I will be on the post-op side. I have been eating so much I feel like I am about to explode! Everyone is telling me not to worry, that everything will be fine but I am still really nervous. I just want to make it out of the hospital alive and then I will go from there.
02/27/03 Okay you guys....I am starting to get scared. I really think it is because I can not picture myself being thin, so there for I think something will happen during my surgery. I KNOW I shouldn't think like that but I can't seem to get it out of my head. I have never ever been thin and the thought of being thin is wrecking havoc on my mind. The thought of dieing and the grief that it would put my parent's through is really starting to set in. My sister and everyone, has reassured that nothing is going to happen to me, that I will be fine and that my surgery will be a success. Why couldn't I have just been born normal!! I hate the fact that I have to take such drastic measures just to even attempt to be thin and happy, because I am so unhappy now. I picture my self being put under and never waking up and that scares me so much that I cry just thinking about it. I look at all of these WLS sites and read about all of the tears they have shed pre-op. Maybe I just need to shed a few of my own.
My surgeon is excellent with excellent stats as well. I have spoken to a few of his patients and none of them suffered from any complications from the actual surgery. I can be so pessimistic at times and think about the absolute worst. It's funny becaue I am so optimistic when it comes to everyone else's problems. I think a lot of us are like that, right?
I am trying to think about all of the things that will be happening to me once I am a post-op like; the new house I might move into, Opera Tampa, my recital, opera workshop scenes, selling my old fat clothes on EBAY and buying new ones that I actually like, being comfortable in simple public places, going to Islands Of Adventure and be able to have an AWESOME time, and look forward to our next cruise and not having to freak out about it. You know, FUN stuff that I can not wait to do!!!
I do feel a little better now that I vented. If anybody has any suggestions or advice, please feel free to email me. It's only 11 more days till my surgery. Thanks for reading!
02/10/03 My date is March 11th!! I could have had it even sooner but I wanted to have it around the time of spring break, and plus I also have choir concerts and other music stuff. What's great is that I will not have to drop out of Opera Tampa. Wow, I still can't believe that I have a chance to be thin and healthy! I hope and pray that I have a successful surgery and that I have no complications. I am starting to get nervous. And excited!!
02/09/03 Hey you guys. I really want to have this sugery done as soon as possible, like spring break in March. If not then I will have to wait until the summertime, like May. If I do it in March I will probably have to drop out of Opera Tampa and will miss two weeks of school, which is ok. I am just wondering if three weeks is enough recovery time to go back to school. Not to work of course but at school I am just sitting in a chair. I think I could do that. I am worried about singing. Even though some famous singers have had this done, I just want to know if it's ok to start back to singing at 2 weeks post-op, considering diaphram and breath control. I just don't want to do anything that would damage my new stomach before it is properly healed. I think I am worrying to much about this!!
My parents came over to my apartment for the weekend and pretty much fixed up my place for me. It looks so good!!! They bought me curtains, rods, groceries and hung up my paintings and pictures, and then paid for my car to be serviced! I am such a poor college student, thank God I have such wonderful, thoughtful, helpful and careing parents. I don't know what I would without them!! And my apartment looks so cute now. My curtains in the living room are off-white with a falling leaves-type pattern, and the one's in my bedroom are violet with the same pattern. So Nice!!!!
02/07/03 So this is what it feels like to be....approved!!!!! I can not freakin' believe it! Patrice called me today and said "I have some great news for you Elizabeth", and went on to tell me that she just received a letter in the mail from my insurance for a reversal of thier original denial decision. She will call me on Monday to finalize everything and to set a surgery date. Oh my gosh, I am already starting to get nervous, I can feel it just thinking about it. It's 5 in the morning and I need to sleep but I will write more tomorrow!!
01/28/03 Howdy to all! Just a little update: My PCP did indeed write me another letter for my insurance. His front desk chick said that this letter was much more detailed and should be what I need. Yay! I just need to pick up my copy of it so I can read what he wrote. On a side note, I am sick! I had to go to the doctor (not my regular PCP, but to a walk-in clinic in St. Pete because my PCP is in Kissimmee. The doc at the clinic was nice...and cute too.) I have to sing in a competetion on Thursday that I CANNOT miss! Thank God he was an understanding doc; he gave me antibiotics and steroids for my voice. I hope it does the trick because this is the worst time to get sick. Hey! I made a rhyme! Oh yeah, and I have gained 7 pds, now I weigh 257lbs. The longer this takes the more the weight creeps on.
01/19/03 Hey guys, I hope everyone had a great weekend. I wrote my appeal letter and sent it out on Thursday. I tried to be professional and considerate but all I want to do was tell them off and explain to them how much this surgery means to me. I tried but I don't think I did a very good job. Maybe I should have been more desperate? I guess we'll see!
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Here is a copy of my appeal letter:
Dear Aetna review panel,
This letter is to appeal your denial for RNY gastric bypass surgery (Reference #) I was referred for this surgery by my primary care physician, who is very concerned about my health because of my severe obesity. I am a 22 year old morbidly obese female who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and I weigh 250 lbs., giving me a body mass index of 42.9. The annual number of deaths in America attributable to obesity has been estimated to be 300,000 deaths per year. With my abnormally high BMI, I am at an estimated 190 percent increased risk of death at my present weight.
As you stated in my denial letter, the reason I was denied was because of inadequate diet history of failed medical therapies documented by an attending physician who does not perform bariatric surgery. I mailed all of my diet history including a detailed account of a medically supervised diet that I did for an accumulative of four years. This weight loss plan, Transformations, was medically supervised by my primary care physician’s partner, Dr. Chappell. The plan included the use of HCG hormone shots, prescription phentermines, an 800-1,000 calorie diet plan and was priced anywhere between 24.00 and 65.50 per week. I often averaged about 42.00 per week. For almost 4 years.
I have included my chart from Transformations but what I want to focus on more specifically are the last two pages, or more importantly, where the most recent documentation of weight loss/gain was reported. I did weekly and bi-weekly weigh-ins, each time receiving HCG shots and phentermines. When I was not receiving HCG shots and phentermines, I was following the diet plan and then would weigh in when I came in for the next week’s supplies. After 6 weeks of using HCG, the body must take a 3 week break to build up immunity to it again, and this explains the “breaks” that are in my chart.
The last date of treatment was 5/20/02. There are quite a few reasons as to why I haven’t started Transformations since then: 1) Keeping on the last two pages, if you look at the first weigh-in it says 204. The last weigh-in says 204 as well. So in 15 months, after spending over 1,000 dollars, I did not lose one pound. With all four years that adds up to over 3,500 dollars spent basically on nothing. 2) I had started college in the fall of 2001, which is about an hour and a half away from Transformations and though I did try and start back on the program, it was hard driving back and forth every other week and also trying to pay for my supplies. 3) The 800-1,000 calorie diet plan was hard to follow without the help of phentermines or HCG shots.
I have made many, many attempts to lose weight and this has gone on all my life. I was put on medications by my doctor to help lose weight. My previous diet history was sent in with the previous letter and included Weight Watchers, the prescription diet pill Meridia, and Atkins diet, as well as over-the-counter Hydroxycut, Xenadrine EFX, and Dexatrim. I tried Jenny Craig 3 times, only to lose 20lbs., and then gain it all back and then some. I even went under hypnosis about 8 years ago but obviously that didn’t do any good either. I have tried many exercise programs and up until last year I was able to exercise and walk on my treadmill, or go for walks around my school. It is now too painful to walk short distances without my heels cramping and my lungs gasping for breath. My lower back has severe chronic pain and I am beginning to suffer from incontinence. One of the bigger issues I have is extreme acid reflux which aggravates my throat and hinders my schooling. I am studying music in college and I have noticed a decline in my vocal tone ever since the acid reflux worsened. I included all of my co-morbidities in the previous letter, which I also attached to this appeal letter.
I stated in the last letter I sent that I had gallbladder surgery at age 16. Both my surgeon, Dr. Halili and my PCP, Dr. Link agreed that my excessive obesity played a major part in why I was having gallbladder attacks, which then led to my initial surgery. Considering that both doctors confirmed my obesity was a cause for gallbladder surgery, I can only imagine what else could happen to me in my younger years. It scares me to think that I am only 22, and yet I could possibly not live to see 30. This is the main reason why I am electing to have this surgery, because I want to be able to live a full life and live to see my future children grow.
My family medical history was entailed in my last letter and it included; a history of obesity, heart disease and hypertension on my fathers side, and heart disease on my mothers side. My sister has chronic asthma, and two of my family members (uncle, grandmother) have suffered from cancer. Two of my cousins and one uncle has diabetes, one of which (uncle) being type II diabetes. I understand that type II diabetes is most occurring in obese adults, but can occur at even an age as young as mine.
Americans spend an additional $33 billion dollars annually on weight-reduction products and services, including diet foods, products, and programs. Most of these expenditures, as is evidenced in my case, are not effective. Rather it can expected that I will continue to gain weight and the costs of co-morbid conditions, including the ones that I already have and ones I surely will acquire as time goes on, will far outweigh the costs of gastric bypass surgery. I want to have this procedure done while I am still young enough to enjoy my growing adult life.
Morbidly obese persons suffer inability to qualify for many types of employment, and discrimination in employment opportunities, as well. They tend to have higher rates of unemployment, and a lower socioeconomic status. Ignorant persons often make rude and disparaging comments, and there is a general societal belief that obesity is a consequence of a lack of self-discipline, or moral weakness. Many morbidly obese persons find it preferable to avoid social interactions or public places choosing to limit their own freedom, rather than suffer embarrassment.
This surgery will help me to experience what many deem as a normal life, one that I have not had any part of as of yet. I really want to be a healthy, happy, well-rounded young woman and live my life without the fear of what disabilities my co-morbidities may cause for me in the future, or living in fear that I may develop more. I appreciate your attention to this appeal and I thank you very much for your consideration.
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01/13/03 Well it's official...I was denied. I was prepared for the emotional aspect but not the physical aspect of it. Meaning, I don't have an appeal letter ready to send. I have lot's of samples so I'll probably type one up in the next day or two and send it out this week. I am such a freakin' idiot. I forgot to make copies of my diet history before I sent them, and now I have to call and see if the diet place I went to will fax me over a copy of them. I live about an hour and a half away from the place so it's not like I can go in between classes. Argh!! I'll tell you what, if I'm not approved this time I will be definately getting an attorney to help me with this. I have no problem shelling out a few grand if it means saving my life. If that doesn't work I'll hold fundraisers for the "Thin Lizzy" fund. Get it? Cute, huh? I'm such a dork, I know. I'll fundraise those nasty chocolate bars and entertainment books plus, I'll even hold a carwash. Man oh man if I could get away with it, lol.
On a gloomier note, I started my classes today. lol. I am going to be soooooooo busy. All I can think of is how much easier it all would be if I were about 125 pds. thinner. Shit, even 75pds. would do the trick right now. I have 15 credit hours (Humanities II, chorus, madrigalians, opera workshop, voice lessons, piano, voice performance class and student recitals. And this is after I dropped biology and algebra.) I have Opera Tampa rehearsels every monday until March, and then it's like, 5 times a week; I work two jobs; my primary job is at Starbucks where I am a shift manager and that takes up 20-28 hours a week, and my second job is as a section leader in chorus at Pasadena Community Church for three hours a week. You see, it's not the actual school hours, or work hours that bother me; it's the time consuming practicing that takes up the most space of my week. I need to spend at least 30 min on each song per day for my repertoire songs and opera tampa, and another 15 min on each of my chorus songs. That adds up to about 5-6 hours a day practicing!!! I would go nuts! Thank God I'm a fast learner and a good sight reader, or I would never get any sleep. I try to spend at least 2-3 hours a day on my music, but even that is a stretch sometimes. I also have my audition for Stetson university, and Symposium, where I was selected to compete for a scholarship! it's really competitive so I'm not expecting anything but a good experience. Thanks for letting me rant, I feel better now.
01/10/03 I feel like I am going to cry! My insurance is claiming that they need more information about my diet history. I sent them my entire file which contained 5 different extensive medically supervised diets for over the last 8 years!! I was on freakin' HCG hormone shots for three years and that was medically supervised. I did meridia, phentermines, and weight watchers, not to mention different low-cal diets from my PCP. My denial is pending, provided that my PCP calls and speaks to Dr. Riggs at Aetna but my PCP doesn't call anyone without written documentation, and Aetna wont fax anything to my PCP's office. It's like a freakin' catch 22 is what it is. My only hope is that Patrice will call me back soon and then maybe she can fax my PCP about what Aetna needs, and then my PCP can call Aetna. Are you with me still? I can't believe I have to go through all of this crap.
01/07/03 I called my surgeon's office today to see what was going on with my papers and Patrice said she had received my labwork and that she had mailed the papers to Aetna on the 18th! She said she received a confirmation from Aetna on the 23rd, so now I'm just waiting for approval...or denial. I'm just glad to finally move on to the final step of this process. I really appreciate Patrice sending my papers as soon as my fax came through, that saved me two weeks of waiting! Now, it's on to harassing Aetna! :)
I just wonder if I will even get approved for this because when I first saw Dr. Overcash, I weighed in at 236pds. and a BMI of 40.07. In the last two months I have gained about 15pds, and I wonder (I know this is going to sound bad) if that would increase my chances for Aetna. I do have other problems like, acid reflux, heartburn, extreme backaches, leg cramps, and I had my gallbladder taken out at 16 yrs. old because of my obesity. I just feel like they are going to look at my weight and be like, " No, not big enough. Next!" I don't know if it's mental or what but ever since I started this journey, it's like I really FEEL the effects of being overweight, the tiredness, the lack of energy, the morning aches and pains. I just want it to be over with! But alive! I want it over with and still be alive. And healthy. And thin. And sane. Ok, ok it seems like I'm asking for a lot but it's what everyone else wants too, right?! :)
Ok, enough talkie talkie ya'll have a great week, and for those of you in school have a great start this semester!
12/27/02 I hope everyone has had a very happy holiday season this year. I personally had a wonderful Christmas just being with my family. It sucks when you go away to school because I hardly ever get to see them, and we are all so close.
My surgeons office is closed until Jan. 2nd for the holidays so I can't call until then. I had all of my paperwork in, except for a copy of my labwork. I faxed it to them on the 18th and called the next day only to hear thier recording. So for all I know, they might have received my fax and already mailed my stuff to aetna. I doubt it because they probably would have called and informed me that they were mailing it. Wishful thinking I guess, lol. What I really hate is if I am approved, I still might have to wait until the summertime to have the surgery because of my school schedule. We shall see!
I hope you all have a prosperous New Year!!