nyunicorn
My name is April and my WLS journey has begun. I spoke to my PCP last year September 2006 regarding WLS and he refused to refer me for it. I was then 289lbs but did not have any other health problems. He suggested weight watchers so I once again jumped on the the diet band wagon and attended the meetings. This year I decided enough is enough and called Dr Cerabonas office and attended the seminar on October 11th with Dr Kauhl. The seminar was very informative and did give me a better perspective on the procedure and exactly what is done. So at the end of the seminar I booked a consultation with Dr Cerabona for November 6th. I switched my PCP and have an appt with her on Oct. 26th. I called my insurance and the surgery is covered under my plan.
So it has begun, just have to keep the ball rolling now!
Ok so now a little history...I was always the fat kid in school. I have been overweight since as far back as I can remember. In the 7th grade I got some kind of bacterial virus and was sick for 3 months. I lost 80lbs during that time. That is the only time I can remember ever losing a significant amount of weight. Of course I started to feel better and back came the pounds.
I have had plenty of not so great moments due to my weight...just to name a few...I went to the Dutchess County fair one year with some friends and waited on line for the longest time to go on a new ride they had that year. It was our turn so we all climbed on and the piece came down over our chests and mine didnt close. So here is this ride attendant pushing as hard as he can trying to squeeze me into it. "Nope I dont fit" and I got off the ride. I felt so terrible I left the fair and cried all night.
My husband and I bought a mobile home when we first moved out together. I was going in the back yard for something and went down the steps leading off the deck when the bottom step broke. My husband came running out to see if I was ok. We had to go to Lowes and buy new "strong" wood to replace the steps.
Then there is his car, his pride and joy, his 06 WRX. I'm to embarressed to tell him that his seat belts dont fit me. So when I drive the car and that annoying beep keeps going on and on he is always saying why dont u just put your seat belt on and it will stop making that noise. He has no idea that it doesnt fit me. I'm sure one of these days I'll get a ticket and have to tell him the truth.
10/26
Today I had my appointment with my PCP. She gave me the referral for WLS without a hassle, thank god. However while I was there I had an EKG done and it came back with some abnormalities. They scheduled me for an ultrasound of my heart. Pretty scary and not sure if that is going to affect my ability to have the WLS. Maybe it will improve my chances of getting approved through my insurance. At the seminar held by Dr Kauhl he said that he had 4 people die in the last 7 years and one of them was due to an abnormal heart. So now I'm sorta freaking out. One more question for me to ask when I have my consultation on the 6th.
11/19/07
Just a quick update. I went for my consultation with Dr Cerabona and everything went great. I had my echo of my heart done that morning and the tech said everything looks good as well. I received my blood work results and found out I have high cholesterol. That was really no big surprise as everyone in my family has high cholesterol.
Last night I attended the support group at the Residence Inn in Fishkill. I was very glad I went, I met a few other people there who have had the surgery. One of the girls at the meeting had Dr Cerabona as her surgeon and said he is "the bomb" lol. Made me feel so much better, she also said it was an easy surgery and there was little pain involved 
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11/29/07
So much has gone on since the last time I posted. I had my consult with Janet the nutritionist, was very informational and I only have 7 more lbs to lose before surgery. That same day I had the appt with cardiologist and he is sending me for a nuclear stress test. I am very concerned about this whole heart issue. When I found out about it last year from my former PCP he told me that is was nothing to worry about. My new PCP seemed very concerned hence the reason for the ECHO. Now the cardiologist is really scaring me, he seems to think I may have already had a minor heart attack and didnt know it. That seems crazy to me, I'm only 26. He said right now my heart is very weak and he will know more once he had the results back from the stress test. I am worried if results are not good he will not clear me for surgery. Today I had my appt with the pulmonologist and that seemed to go well. I did the PFT test and he sending me to St Francis for the ABG. He did say there is a chance that I have asthma but I explained to him that I had a very bad cold a few weeks ago and still have the cough. I also scheduled my final pre-op consult with the nutritionist and my psych evaluation. My last day of pre-op testing is scheduled for January 7th. Getting anxious now, seems to be going so fast but at the same time is taking forever. So many hoops to jump through and there is still a chance the insurance company will deny me.
12/7/07
Today I had the nuclear stress test the cardiologist referred me for. I wont have the results back until the 13th but I have a feeling its not good. The test was pretty scary 
and I'll be pretty happy if I never have to go through that again. They injected the stuff (which by the way was neon green)through an IV in my arm and I started to feel really flushed. The inside of my mouth felt like it was burning. I felt my heart start racing and then quickly got a headache, shortly after that I felt so quesy I thought I was going to 
all that water they had just made me drink. The whole thing lasted about 4 hours. I asked the tech after the first half how everything looked and she said it looked good but they couldnt tell if there was a problem until after the second half. So when I was all finished I asked her again how it looked and she told me that it was better if the cardiologist told me, so I'm assuming it must be bad. Every single test/dr appt. I've had since October is showing something wrong. I can't believe I'm only 26 and I let things get this bad.
12/17/07
Just another quick update. I received the results from my stress test and the cardiologist is going to clear me for surgery . I am so happy as that really had me worried. I also went for the ultrasound of my gallbladder last week and all went well. As of now the only thing I have left to do is lose this last 5 pounds and go for my psych evaluation on January 7th. I am drinking 2 shakes a day of zero carb isopure with 1/2 a banana in each one and eating a normal dinner. Hopefully this will help shed these last 5 pounds. I know Christmas is right around the corner and that is going to be tough. I just know I have to do it. I joined planet fitness and have been working out although not as much as I should be. I need to get my ass in gear. I just always feel like I have no time. Cant wait to finally get my surgery date, I am so excited. I'm looking forward to starting my new life and finally start living. I have been having dreams for the last 2 weeks about life after surgery, has anyone else experienced this before surgery?
1/16/08
Happy New Year! Thought I would give a quick update. I called Dr Cerabonas office on Monday to make sure they had all my paperwork and found out I was missing my clearance for surgery from my PCP. I have my appt on Monday the 21st and then I am done will all pre-op testing. I still have 4lbs to lose to meet the insurance requirement (I have MVP). I am working out like crazy this whole week trying to get it off before my Monday appt so my Dr can document my weight loss. If I can manage to get this 4lbs off then I'm good to go. I am really hoping to get approved my first time around.
