SheilaB
August 30, 2002
About me: I'm 36, married with two wonderful children. My starting weight is about 300lbs. I have a fantastic husband who is very supportive. I've been overweight my entire life. Most of my family is overweight as well, so I came by it though inheritance and by the fact that I like to eat rich foods. I live in the south where good food is everywhere! Well, I have tried all those fad diets, shots, pills and other diets that the doctors dish out. They are all good for losing weight! You just can't keep it off. The lifestyle that they call for just isn't realistic. I believe that this surgery could help a great deal in losing the weight and keeping it off forever. I know that this surgery isn't the cure all and that there is a tremendous responsibility on the part of the person getting the procedure done to do their part. I do believe that it is a tool to reach the goal. I've been researching the WLS surgery for a least a year and a half. I would have tried to get it long before now, but the insurance company that I have been with has a written exclusion. We are about to change insurances and the enrollment period doesn't come up until October. The policy won't go into effect until January. I have went through the policy with a fine tooth comb and there is NO EXCLUSION! I even called the company and asked them straight out if there was any exclusion for the treatment of obesity of any kind and they said no. I called several times and spoke to several people just to make sure. This insurance is expensive, so I wanted to cover all the bases. I've been to one informative meeting by the doctors who perform the surgery but to be honest, I've done so much searching on this and other sites that I really didn't learn anything new. It was good for my husband to attend, so that he could get a better idea about the surgery. He is very supportive and loving no matter what I decide to do regarding this procedure. I asked him if when I loose the weight, will he finally carry me over the threshold and he said he would be honored. I will update again as the time for insurance draws closer.
November 26, 2002
I've made my consultation appointment with Dr. Lavin in Covington. When my new insurance kicks in in January I'll be ready with my appointment on the 23rd. I think that I will have to go to a PCP first and get the referral and all. I don't think that should be a problem. At least I hope not.
January 1, 2003
I called the insurance company to verify that all the paperwork was in order and they said it hadn't been processed yet. I will check on it on the 2nd. I did find out recently that my rate for the premiums went up. This new insurance is going to cost us $696 a month! That's more than my house payment. I don't know how we will swing this but it's the only way to have this surgery. It will pay 100% for surgery. I pray the approval will all go smoothly. As soon as I know that the insurance is in the bag, I will go to the PCP and get the referral for the surgeon. I already have an apt with the surgeon on the 23rd but technically need the referral to go. Anyway, I am looking forward to getting the ball rolling.
January 9, 2003
Last night we went to a Carnie Wilson event at the Ponchartrain Center in New Orleans. It was a full house event. I suspect that there were at least 2000 people there. Of course, I didn't find anything new at the event. It seems that I have gotten more information from this site than from anywhere else. Carnie was a little crude, I thought. Her WLS journey was interesting and informative, but she seemed to focus on the strength coming from herself. I have learned (and I'm still learning) that all of my strength comes from the Lord and not myself. When I do things in my own strength, I eventually fail. My faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ and to presume that I somehow have what it takes to survive this world on my own would be crazy. I just hope Carnie doesn't have to hit the proverbial "brick wall" to find that out. God has been so good to me and has blessed me tremendously. I would hope that I (the creation) wouldn't put myself in a position above God (the creator) and think that I am my own source of strength. I wanted to thank Carnie for inspiring the nation to become more informed about WLS but the line was too long and I had a cranky 18 month old baby that didn't want to sit in his stroller any longer. It was nice to meet some other people who had already had the surgery and hear their testimonies. Hopefully I can give advice on the surgery and help someone else out like so many people on this website has given me. On another note. A very good friend of mine was here this evening. She is an RN at a local hospital and obese herself. I mentioned where we went last night and she made her stand very known in regards to WLS. She said plainly that she thought it was a cop out and that it all boiled down to diet and exercise. I can't believe she would say such a thing. She is overweight, herself and even battles with bullimia. She loses, then gains, loses then gains..... it's the yo-yo thing with her. She said that she can't understand why someone would rearrange their insides to lose weight when it's a matter of self control. I calmly explained that it is a tool to lose the weight and that keeping it off is up to the person. Self control is still needed. It bothers me a great deal that someone that I thought that I could talk to, ends up telling me that it is a cop out. It looks like her stand is made and I have to make mine. I guess I won't be having personal conversations with her about this because we just can't see eye to eye on it. I'm glad my husband is so supportive and that I have friends on this website. God has blessed me.
January 16, 2003
I went to my apt with the PCP today. I was glad to find out that he favors the surgery and has several patients that he has referred to have the surgery and lose a lot of weight. He was quick to tell me that I would have a lot of hoops to jump through for the insurance and that it would take anywhere from 6 to 8 months from start to surgery. I was thinking that it would be quicker than that but I guess it depends on how quick I get the pre-op stuff done and how quick the insurance approves it. I am scheduled to get some blood work done in the morning. Glad that is quick. Oh, and I am going to have to cancel my appt with the surgeon next week because the PCP said he can't refer me until he rules out any treatable cause for the obesity. He said its an insurance thing but he also want to make sure. I have to get together documented efforts of weight loss with physicians. That may be difficult but I do have some in the past. I have MANY self initiated diets and exercise programs. It looks like it may be February before I will be able to see the surgeon because of having to get all of the other stuff out of the way. He said I also have to go to a psychiatrist for evaluation for the surgery. I just ready to get the ball rolling!
January 17, 2003
Went to the PCP office to do the lab work. That was easy. Also, I spoke with the insurance people and they said that my pcp could go ahead and order the referrals for the other specialists needed. YEAH.... I had the nurse call in a referral for the dietician and gastroenterologist. I was able to make my apt with the shrink for the psych evaluation for next Wednesday, the 22nd! I will find out Monday, hopefully, when I can have my apts with the other doctors. Oh, I canceled my apt with the surgeon. I hated doing that, but I want to do this "by the book". I don't want any bills coming in later because I didn't follow protocol or something. I also need to set up the sleep study apt on Monday, if I can. Stay tuned......
January 22, 2003
Hey everyone! I went to my psych evaluation this morning. This Dr. didn't seem too interested in what he was doing. He just read off some things on a list and I answered yes or no. When I would stop to elaborate (some things just can't be. answered with a yes or no) he would scribble something down on the paper. He never would look me in the eye or anything. It was real impersonal to say the least. I wonder if he is like that with his regular patients who come to see him all the time. Then I had to fill out a 576 question form with true or false. I understand the need to have evaluations to see if a person is not prepared for the surgery or could possibly sabotage their own weight loss but how in the world could they find this out with the type of evaluation that I had? Did most of you have the same experience? I have noticed that some people have had evaluations by someone who seemed interested in the process and the person. I also went to the PCP office to set up my apts with the dietician and gastro doctor. The dietician is set up for this Friday the 24th.
January 24, 2003
Went to the dietician today. She was very nice and informative. The nutritional information that she gave me wasn't for people after they have had gastric bypass, though. It was more for those who want to just go on a 1500 calorie diet. The nutritional information is good to know anyway no matter what. I will follow what she has suggested until I am able to have the surgery done, if I can. I may have to use this as my 12 week supervised weight loss program because I can't seem to get documentation of the ones that I have been on in the past. I guess I will schedule follow up appointments with her so she can supervise me in this.
February 5, 2003
I am still waiting for the results of the psych evaluation. I had them sent to Dr. Griffee's office but the last time that I checked, they said that they didn't have it. Anyway, I received an approval from the insurance to have a sleep study done. The person that I need to speak with wasn't there to make the appointment so I will call again tomorrow to schedule that.
February 6, 2003
I was able to make my appointment for the sleep study today. It is this Saturday night with Total Sleep Diagnostics in Mandeville. They said that I can't have any hair spray or gel on my hair as it makes the connections not adhere well. This will be difficult as we are going out to dinner with friends that evening and my hair will be a wreck without it, but I guess I will manage. I'm thankful to get an appointment so soon. I'm also thankful that my insurance was able to give me approval to even get the sleep study done. They don't require it for the surgery or anything. I wanted it just to make sure. I do some of the symptoms of sleep apnea but this will tell for sure. I need to schedule my husband for this test as he seems to have it bad. I watch him at night and he snores so loudly and stops breathing during the night. Looks like this is going to be the year of the doctors for us. My daughter (who 11) says she doesn't want to get old like us because we keep going to the doctor more and more these days. She doesn't know anything about me seeking the surgery yet. We will tell her when I actually have approval and have set a date. At that time, we will tell the rest of the family. For now, until all is settled and the date is set, my husband and I aren't telling anyone. My friend, Carol, knows that I am looking into it but I haven't told her that I'm active pursuing it. Anyway, I will write more when I have more news.
February 7, 2003
What an interesting day. I had to have a colonoscopy and endoscope done today. Yesterday's prep was fun indeed. Who ever names that stuff "GoLytely" didn't have a clue. There is nothing "lytely" about it. Anyway, everything went well. I don't remember much of the event if anything at all. They dilated my esophagus because of the reflux and all. Truthfully, though, I hope I don't have to do that again anytime soon. My husband will be doing it soon as well. The sleep test is tomorrow night. I hope I don't disappoint them by not being able to get to sleep.
February 9, 2003
Well, I did my sleep study. It was a rough night to say the least. I had so many wires hooked to me all over my body and was supposed to stay on my back the whole time. It was hard falling asleep with all of that. I would recommend to anyone having this done that they make sure that they are good and tired before going in. Get up early that morning and don't drink any caffeine that day. I wish that I had done that. I came home in the morning and went straight to bed. I didn't sleep much at the sleep lab. I guess they got the information that they needed though.. I am going to be calling my previous PCP to see if he has written that letter that I requested from him saying that he has seen me through the years and has put me on several diets and programs. I can't seem to find any other documentation of previous weight loss attempt that were supervised. I seemed to have hit a dead end with that. I sure hope that he writes it for me. He has it written down in my chart that he put me on the diets and pills and all.
February 10, 2003
My previous doctor wrote the note for me but I don't think that it will help. It doesn't say much about the weight loss programs, it just says that I have seen him for weight loss and the beginning weight in 1996. I was hoping for something a little more detailed. It looks like I am going to start seeing the dietician for weigh-ins for the next 12 weeks and let this be my 12 week supervised weight loss program. I don't want to wait that long but I may not have a choice. Also, I got word that the psych evaluation came out fine and I was recommended for the surgery. I wonder now what the sleep study shows. I'll find that out in the next week or so.
February 26, 2003
Received the letter from Total Sleep Diagnostics today. I've been officially diagnosed with Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. At the bottom of the page it recommends that I undergo a
CPAP trial. I'm not sure what that means yet but I will find out tomorrow, I hope. I am going to write my doctor a letter stating that I have jumped through all of the hoops, will he please ask for a referral for me to see the surgeon. The only thing that may hinder things at this point is the fact that the letter that my previous PCP wrote for me wasn't very specific about it being a 12 week program. So, I'm not sure if that will be documentation enough for the insurance company. We will see. I would love to have this surgery as soon as possible but with the 12 week diet issue and the fact that my husband can't take off from work until spring break (In April) I may have to wait until April.
May 13, 2003
Well, today is my birthday. I'm now 37. Where do the years go? Anyway, since my last entry on this profile, not a whole lot has happened. My doctors nurse told me that she wouldn't even send in a request for a referral until I completed another 12 week diet program. She said that this is a requirement of the insurance. She was so rude, it was obvious that she is not for this surgery and would do what she can to slow it down or prevent it by discouragment. So, I joined Weight Watchers. I've been on it for over 6 weeks now but I can't say that my heart is in it. I called the surgeons office yesterday and spoke with the person who deals strictly with my insurance to get her opinion on this whole thing. She said that she can't believe that the nurse told me such a thing because it is not true. My insurance will take the documentation that I have without a problem. I asked her what I should do and she suggested changing PCP doctors. Sounds good to me, so I called the insurance and changed to one that she recommended in Covington. Ok, now the ball is rolling again. I have everything that I need now...The sleep study that confirmed that I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the psych. evaluation, the blood work and documented diet failures. Now all I need to do is visit the new PCP and get a referral to the surgeon. The person at the surgeon's office said that after she submits her letter the insurance probably will approve it within a couple of days. My apt with the new PCP is next Wednesday the 21st of May.
May 21, 2003
Went to the new PCP today. Wow, what a difference from the other one. Dr. Clark is just wonderful. He asks a lot of questions and listens very well to what I had to say. He fully understands and supports my decision to have this surgery. He mentioned that his nurse had it done and was very successful. He said that all the hoops that the previous doctors nurse had me going through wasn't necessary. He put in for a referral to the surgeon right away. I will call the PCP back next Tuesday to check on the referral, but I am calling the surgeon tomorrow to set up an appointment. Dr. Clark had me take an EKG, and a chest x-ray because he said that they would order it anyway. Also, Dr. Clark said that I have high blood pressure and put me on medicine for it. He said that after I loose weight, I wouldn't need it anymore. Well, a couple more things out of the way. So far, I think that I have everything that I need already done. That should make things a little easier at the surgeons office. Dr. Clark said that Dr. Lavin may have a couple more things that I need to do for their office procedures. I am so looking forward to this. It seems as though it is finally starting to come together. Hopefully, it won't be long before a date is set. THANK YOU LORD!
May 23, 2003
Well, today I made my appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Lavin. My consult is on June 12. Three weeks away. I should have the referral by next week authorizing me to go to him. Since I have just about everything done, as far as tests and other preliminary insurance qualifying stuff goes, hopefully the approval won't take long. The lady at the surgeons office said after she submits the forms, it could take as little as 2 days. We will see.
June 12, 2003
Went to the surgeons office today for a consultation. I didn't get to see Dr. Lavin but I met with his nurse practitioner, Maria. She seemed very nice and went over my file with me in detail. She said she was impressed with all of the info that I had in there. She went over the surgery and my husband and I asked a few questions like possible complications, etc. She said that out of all the surgerys that had been done there (over 500), 2 people have died. She said that one was because of pulmonary embolism and the other she said that they believe was an embolism as well. She told me to start taking Foltx which is a suppliment with Folic Acid, B-6, and B-12. She wrote me a prescription for it. Also, I am going to re-do my bloodwork since the last round was done in January and that is too long ago. No problem there, I am going to try and take care of that in the morning. I am also supposed to go to a physical therapist for some kind of exercise evaluation. With all of that done, they will request authorization from the insurance to do the surgery. ONE STEP CLOSER!
June 13, 2003
Went to the lab to get the bloodwork done again. The surgeon wanted to make sure all of them were up to date.
June 18, 2003
APPROVED!!!! Wow that was fast. We were out of town until today and I had several messages on my machine from the surgeons office. I called her back and she told me I was approved on Monday! Can you believe it? I went for my first consultation on Thursday evening, and the insurance said I was approved on Monday morning. I didn't think it would be this fast but boy am I glad. They said they are waiting on my lab work to come in but I should be scheduled for surgery in July!
June 23, 2003
I'VE GOT A DATE! My date for surgery is July 7th. She offered me July 3, which is next Thursday but my husband wouldn't be able to be there with me so we chose the 7th. I have to go to a pre-op class on Wednesday, then have an appointment with Dr. Lavin to go over the medical releases, etc...then to the hospital for all of the things that I need to sign there. This is great! It is now hitting me that this real and I'm about to make a major change in my life.
July 4, 2003
Only 2 1/2 more days until the surgery! It has come very fast. All that waiting and now here it is. I guess the nerves are a little jittery but I'm ready. I've waited so long. It's hard to believe that in just a few days, I'll be on my way to a slimmer self. I've never been thin or anything close to it. It will be interesting to see what thin looks like on me. I'm looking forward to it. I thank God that I am able to have this surgery. I just pray that I don't mess anything up with eating the wrong thing or anything. God has blessed me so much!
July 12, 2003
HEY! I MADE IT!! Surgery went great with no complications. The doctor said it only took him about an hour to do it. Amzing what they can do these days. Anyway, the hospital staff were great, I couldn't have asked for better nurses. I got out of the hospital on Wednesday. (2 days after the surgery) The clear liquid diet has been awful though. I feel hungery all the time. Sugar free Jello, broth, water and crystal lite just don't cut it. I started drinking my protein drinks a day early because I just needed something with a different taste. I felt so much better. IT actually fills me up more than the clear liquids did. I think that I have lost a couple of pounds but I will announce the official number when I go back for my first follow up visit. I think for me the hardest part is the head hunger. When my family is in the other room eating lasagna and I have to leave the room so I can drink my crystal lite, I get cranky. My husband and I walked in the mall this evening. Not much , just a little. I haven't been too sore or anything, I just didn't want to push it. When my husband is eating a nice juicy hamburger, I've asked myself, "What have I done?" But it will be worth it in the long run. I want to be healthier and thinner.
July 17, 2003
Went to my first post-op visit. The scale said that I have lost 10 lbs. Not too bad but I had hoped for more. But, it's only been 10 days. I've been allowed to have have full liquids now. I've been pretty much doing that already. Having the protein shakes and making them in the blender like a milk shake has worked out well. It's thicker and stays a while.
August 22, 2003
I went to my one month visit a few days ago. I've lost 30lbs in 6 weeks. I do wish it were more. I was on a plataeu for about 2 1/2 weeks! I was very discouraged there for a while. Hopefully it will start falling off more soon. I haven't been able to get my protein in. Before surgery I would come to this website and hear everyone talk about how they couldn't get their water and protein in and couldn't figure out why. Well, now I know why. I can't choke down another protein shake to save my life. I gag very easily. I am eating most foods now. I'm trying to eat protein first but with this small pouch that means only a few bites. If I eat beyond that, I get sick. Dumping is no fun. I get shaky, my heart races and sometimes I throw up. Shortly after I have to run to the restroom. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret the surgery, I'm just still getting used to the new way of eating. I know it will all be worth it in the end when I lose the weight. When I had blood work done the other day they said that my protein levels were too low (15). I need help getting that up. I've tried the protein bars and can only get a couple of small bites in. It seems as if my taste buds have rebelled on me. Sometimes when we go out to eat and I am really hungry I will look at something on the menu and think it looks great and that I could eat it. Then when it gets to me, I take a bite or two and don't want it anymore. It just doesn't taste like it used it. My love afair with food is over. Sometimes I just want to eat like a normal person and enjoy the taste and texture of food again but I know that is what got me in the condition that I was in to begin with.
September 6, 2003 (almost 9 weeks post op)
Just checking in to post the latest. I am now down 40lbs. The scale is moving soooooo slow for me, it seems. I've had a rough time getting in enough protein but I'm working on it. The IsoCrytaline from GNC is good. I mix it with juice and it works out fine. I've tried different protein bars but I'm not crazy about them. Even the detour bars don't taste too good to me like they did before. I'll keep trying.
September 24, 2003
Wel, I've been keeping busy lately. I do have more energy than I did before and that is great. Last Saturday I spent the whole day in the emergency room. The night before my heart started racing really fast and I couldn't calm it down. It even woke me in the middle of the night. It was extremely uncomfortable to say the least. I called my WLS surgeon and told him what was going on and he suggested that I go right in and have some tests run. He didn't think that it was surgery related but he said to check for blood clots anyway. So, I went in and had a xray, a CT scan and a EKG done. The er doctor said that it was atrial fibrilation and considered admitting me into the hospital. It finally quit later in the afternoon. He sent me home with instructions to come back if it started again and told me to follow up with a cardiologist. So I went to one yesterday and he is ordering test like bloodwork, ekg, and an echo-cardiogram on Friday. I am also on a beta blocker to slow the heart rate down. I thought I was too young for any heart trouble but I guess not. I'm sure it will work itself out.
On a better note, I am now down 50lbs! I put on a pair of size 20's and although they were tight, I got in them! I am now 245lbs.
December 5, 2003 (5 months post-op)
It's been a little while since I've posted. A few things have happened. About a month ago, I was in the hospital for 3 days with atrial fibrulation again. This time they said that the reason that my heart goes into a-fib is because my potasium levels were too low and that happens. I didn't have any idea that potasium could cause this sort of thing. I am now on two medications, rythmol and toprol. Also, he has me on potasium suppliments. Hopefully I won't have to stay on these forever. I think that if I keep my potasium up, then I can slowly get off the heart medicine. For those of you who might be reading this, it wasn't the surgery that made this occur. I checked it out. They said that I probably already had a problem but it didn't show up until my levels were so low. I am not eating that much so it is easy to let certain levels of essential nutrients get low. That is why it is so important to keep up good vitamins and all. I don't regret this surgery at all. I am now down 75lbs
and amazingly enough, getting into size 16 jeans. They are tight but I do wear them. My husband says that he doesn't think that they are too tight. I guess I am just used to lose clothing. I am hoping that I will have lost 10 or 15 more lbs by Christmas but I don't know. I seem to lose in spurts.We will see.
February 2, 2004
Well, I'm not checking in as often as I said that I would. I've been very busy. I am now at 200lbs! I have lost 95 lbs in 6 1/2 months. I am very pleased with those results and I am looking forward to losing the rest of this awful weight. I can see already that I am going to have to have my arms done and a tummy tuck (at least). One problem that I have right now is my insurance situation. I had to switch from the insurance that I had for the surgery. It was costing too much and going up and up. So, now I have an insurance where I have a $3000 deductable per person per year! Any lab work will count towards the deductable. That means I can't really have any lab work done. Also, any visits to a specialist count towards the deductable so I won't be visiting my WLS surgeon unless I absolutly need to. They have asked me to get this list of bloodwork done but I can't do it because it is too expensive. They said that my protein levels are too low and need to be checked regularly. I have to keep on trying to get those levels up on my own and monitor how I feel to tell me what I need. Anyway, I have only 4 more pounds to reach the century mark! yeah!
February 13, 2004
Well, I am now in the century club! I have lost an amazing 100 lbs in 7 months. I am below the 200 mark for the first time since high school over 20 years ago! I have a long way to go before I reach my goal range (130-140) but I am so looking forward to it. I know already that plastic surgery on my arms and tummy are going to be necessary plus I would like to get my breast done. I have no idea if my insurance will cover any of it but I will try when the time comes. It is very hard to see myself the weight that I am because my brain still tells me that I'm the biggest one in the room. But I know that isn't always the case anymore. I wonder if that will change when I am a size 8 or so. I am in a 14/16 right now.
April 19, 2004
I am about 185lbs now. I haven't lost much lately. I seem to loose in spurts. 5lbs a month lately. I do wish it were a lot more. I need to lose another 50 pounds. Everyone keeps saying how great I look and that they don't think that I need to lose much more but I disagree. I think that they are so used to seeing me look so big that the difference is so much. Anyway, I am glad to have gone what is gone but I am looking forward to loosing much more. Also, I will desperately need to do something about my arms and panni. yuck! These arms look like I have flags hanging down from them. It is awful. I don't want the scar that comes along with that surgery but I will take that over the hanging skin. I feel much better these days and don't dump nearly as much as I used to. I eat more than I did several months ago. I guess that accounts for the slower weight loss. I am still not eating as much as other people do but it more than I did a few months ago. I need to watch that.
Sep.1, 2004
I haven't updated lately. I have been so busy. We are in the process of trying to sell our home and move to Mississippi. My husband is now the pastor of a church there and we are moving to the church. Anyway, my weight hasn't moved as quickly as it usedto but I am eating a lot more than I used to. I still cannot tolerate too much sugar or milk but nothing seems to be off limits totally. I all seems to amount to moderation. I feel awful if I eat too quickly or too much. I am now 165 lbs. Everyone says that I look great. I do feel better and I know I look a lot better but I still would like to get to 130. I also want some plastic surgery done. I will check into that in January because I have such a high deductable ($3,000) and I haven't met any of it this year. I will start next year on that. I haven't even gotten my labs done or seen my surgeon because of this insurance plan that I am on. To go to a specialist means it all comes out of pocket until the deductable is met. I just can't afford that right now so it will have to wait until next year. Oh well, other than that I feel great and many people haven't even recognised me when they see me. It's great!
Photos
 295 Can't wait to have the surgery! |
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