Michelle_b
My name is Michelle and I am a 33 year old mother of 3 daughters and 1 son. I have struggled with weight all of my adult life. I decided to research weight loss surgery after a close friend of mine decided to have it done and suggested I check into it. I was very fortunate to live nearby to a center of excellence in Bariatric surgery. I called and scheduled myself for the next orientation they offered back in June of 2004 and went in October to the meeting. I came out of that even more convinced I needed to do something drastically different. I was labeled morbidly obese and that was a slap in the face. I had been overweight for years and just accepted it as my destiny. My parents are both morbidly obese and many of my distant relatives as well. I was just destined to be fat and die with complications of my weight in my mind. After the orientation I was scheduled to meet with a surgeon and had that appointment in Jan of 2005. At that appointment I met with the staff and a fellow surgeon who was really nice. He told me how I was an optimal candidate with my weight and history, but at that point and time I didnt meet the requirements of the Insurance company. I am 5'9" and for a female that is out of the "norm", so that put my BMI a touch lower than most women my weight. My BMI at that time was around 42 and in order for the Insurance company to even begin to consider you, you're BMI had to be greater than 45. So that was a major setback for me. I was told I had two options and one of them was to try and lose on my own, but even the surgeon said how much of a shame it is, because I would almost definetly gain it back. So I just kind of walked away from that experience feeling once again destined to be fat forever. I started having trouble in my personal life with my husband and felt pretty hopeless. In the meantime my friend who originally suggested all this had decided to change surgeons offices because the one she was with originally was giving her the major run around. So she scheduled with Dr Chapmans office and things did a 360 for her. She had been in the wait and see mode for so long, and now things were moving at a much faster pace. Before long she had approval and was scheduled for surgery. She went forward and had surgery in April of 2006 and I was by her side for the first of it all. I saw firsthand what she went through and realized how much I had to gain by trying to find another avenue to obtain my ultimate goal. A few weeks after her surgery I emailed Dr Chapman personally and gave him a brief run down of what I had been through the year before. To my suprise I had a reply from him within just a few hours ....I could not believe he actually read his emails and responded. He suggested I call the office and schedule an appointment with him...long story short, He made it all happen and quick. I had an appointment with him within 1 week and got the process started all over again. In the time that had lapsed from 2004 to 2006 the insurance company had changed the requirements to having a BMI of 40 or more...(wonderful news for me). I had to go through all the tests and 6 months of weight visits with the nutritionist before we could submit to the insurance co. I started all that in May of 2006 and had my final appointment with dr chapman on Dec 19th. I was told to expect around a month or so to hear back from them about the insurance companies decision. I knew with the holidays falling in the middle of all that I should expect more. I was a miserable soul those weeks, I was as depressed as I have ever been...as heavy as I had ever been and felt as sick as I have ever in my life. I felt somedays If I had been denied I would not be able to handle it. I felt this was my ONLY chance for a life worth living. Things had gotten so bad at home my husband and I were fighting constantly because of all the tension I was creating. He had actually taken off of work because of an arguement the night before and lack of sleep, the day I got "the call". I saw the name on the caller ID and it didnt even register until I answered and the voice on the other end said ...This is so and so from Dr Chapmans office...(LONG PAUSE) and I am calling to schedule your SURGERY!!! I nearly fainted, I just stood there speechless at first with tears streaming down my face and I began to do my lil dance in my kitchen holding the phone...not saying a word. She said you can do your dance now, you are approved. I told her i was dancing already and trying not to pass out. She went on to tell me I had been scheduled for Feb 9th...that was only 3 weeks away! I got off the phone and went and found my husband and told him...he was as relieved as I was I think. I went from being a nervous wreck waiting to get approval..to being a nervous wreck about surgery. I have had several operations and knew what to expect as far as that was concerned...and thats probably what scared me more than the unknown. But fast forward a bit to the night before surgery. I had to go stock the cabinets and clean the house like i'd never come home again (im neurotic). I spent the night before surgery in Wal-Mart buying every flavor of crystal light the make and checking off my list of "goodies" for the kids. I went to bed exhausted and didnt sleep very well. We got up around 4:30 that morning and got our son up and ready .We managed to still be about 15 minutes late arriving to check in, I was given my pager and told to wait till it went off . I went back in the waiting room with my husband and son and sat waiting as nervous as I've ever been. I got called back within a short while and was asked to do the whole undress and wait thing. They came in and shaved my stomach and asked all the usual questions and I was told I would be moved soon to the ASU to get the happy drugs ect. My husband son and mom came back to wait with me until they moved me...and thats when I showed my weakness...I broke down crying and told them how afriad I really was. Of course my mom cried..and my husband hugged me the whole time. They followed me down the hall till they couldnt go any further and we said our goodbyes..I was on my way finally (so i thought). Lucky me always the one to fall through the cracks. I was sitting on the bed waiting waiting waiting...clock kept ticking and there I sat. Alone and scared. I was supposed to be in surgery by 9 and it was after 11....it was actually around noon when they finally sent for me.. But this time I was really one my way. I rolled down the cold hallway to the operating room and we busted through the doors into an even colder spot with people buzzing around....nurses counting outloud the supplies...I was really there! I was moved onto the tiny little table and strapped down and covered in warm blankets AHHHH those are great! The nurse was talking to me along with the happy juice guy..I took in the nitrous and felt the sting from the medicine go up my arm and POOF, I was OUT! I woke up several hours later when they were removing the breathing tube and then moved to my room for the next 3 days. I wont go into all the details but it wasnt SO bad.. Thanks Goodness for Lortab and morpheine every 6 minutes hehe. I weighed myself 2 days post op and to my shock had GAINED 5 lbs . All the fluid and swelling they said ... I had surgery on a friday and went home on monday afternoon. I was SO SO happy to get to my house in my zone...nomore needles at 3 am with wires attached to my chest and arms...and I had the drugs hehe!
The first few weeks were rough on me. I struggled to get in enough to keep me hydrated and I was very anemic... not to mention my entire house came down with a stomach virus 2 weeks after surgery. I was exhausted! But once I turned it around Its been great. I feel better with each passing day. I have lost down 2 or 3 sizes in clothing and 50+lbs in just 8 weeks. I have gotten my sense of humor back and I dont look so much like the walking dead anymore. I dont regret one step of this process I think each bump in the road just prepared me for the next one.. I am still early on in this new life, but so excited to see what comes. I see hope and light where before I saw misery and death. I feel my life has been given back to me and my children will be given the chance to experience what they deserve with me as their mother. This is a long drawn out story I know...and I left out alot of good parts. But I want to encourage anyone considering surgery, dont listen to negative things people say...do what feels right for you. You are the only one who knows how it is to be you....and you are the only one who can decide your destiny. Do what is best for you...not the person next to you!
