Shelster
OCTOBER 5TH, 2005
I have spent the past few months putting together my paperwork for Weight Loss Surgery. At first, I had planned on going with CORI Centers in Detroit, Michigan because friends of mine did their WLS there. Well, I was just not comfortable with them and they did not feel right. I found ObesityHelp.com and starting looking for a Surgeon. That is when I found Dr. Whites office. I called Kristi and she got me started on what I need for Dr. White and WLS. Kristi told me more over the phone in one day than CORI did in 2 months!!!
I went to the first Support Group meeting on October 4th and met many wonderful people. Everyone has had their surgery already and they are just great to draw information from. I plan on going to the support group meetings every month, I even joined their exercise class. I see the nutritionist in Nov. & Dec. I see my PCP on October 7th to get started on the supervised WL diet.
It took me two years to paper chase and put together my dosier for our Adoption of our Chinese daughter....so I am use to this waiting and chasing!!!!
OCTOBER 25, 2005
Well, I just had my Phyc. evaluation. It took almost 3 hours to find out I was normal...but FAT! Unfortunatly it is not covered by my HMO and I have to shell out $280 bucks for the session. I could have gone to a Dr. that was in my network, but this one works with my WL surgeon...so I am just going to bite the bullet and pay for it. November 23rd., is my first nutrionist appointment. More later.
NOVEMBER 11, 2005
I am still working on my paperwork. I have the 5 years of diet history. I have the physc. evaluation done now. (yes, I am nuts, but worthy of surgery..hahaha). I have 2 out of 3 to 6 PCP visits done. I am now waiting for my neutrition meetings in Nov. & Dec. Kristi says she will submit my paperwork to Aetna on Dec. 14th after my final neutrition meeting. I just pray to God someone is in the Christmas spirit and approves me. I don't want to have to do the full 6 months with the PCP.
DECEMBER 19, 2005
Well, all my paperwork went to Aetna on December 15th, 2005. I am already prepared to be denied. I hear Aetna is making all their people do the 6 months PCP weigh loss. I only have the 3 months with PCP and surgeon. Kristi at Dr. White's office said I will probably be denied too. Oh well, I will just right an appeal or wait 3 more months. I am not sure yet. My work is very busy in Jan-Feb-Mar and there is no one who can do my job, so it might be best to do the whole 6 months. Ya never know...with only 6 days till Christmas, someone at Aetna may be in a good mood??? Ya think??
JANUARY 14, 2006
It is 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night and I just spent 4 hours putting together my appeal letter for Aetna. Kristi says I have up to 3 appeals, so I figured while I was waiting to complete 2 more months of PCP visits I would give my old Journalism Degree a whirl and write an appeal. Now keep in mind I went into graphic design and not journalism...hahahaha...so I may be looking at appeal #2. The worst case I finish my 6 months with my Dr. on Feb. 7th and send in another appeal at which time I should be approved.
KEEPING THE FAITH......
FEBRUARY 06, 2006
I came home from work today (sick), I have the flu, and did not expect to see my approval in the mail because I thought Kristi at Dr. Whites office would know first. As sick and tired as I was and just wanted to go lay down, I opened it and I was APPROVED!!!!!! So there I was, sicker than a dog, not able to call anyone because I was afraid I would puke or poop! hahahaha.
Long story short, Kristi is making me an appointment with Dr. White and I have to call the Therapist. I am hoping to have the surgery April 10 or 17th as I have a job that needs me until then and there is no one to replace me. I love my job and the people I work for and don't want to give them any hardship. So I will be safe to wait till April.
FEBRUARY 15, 2006
I have my appointment with Dr. White on March 9th, and my first Therapy appointment Feb. 21st. Now that I have been approved and things are rolling along....I am scared! I can't believe I am really going to altar my life like this. I have not told my employers of my plans yet. I am going to wait until after my appointment with Dr. White.
Yesterday was my 8 year wedding anniversary to my wonderful 6 foot 6 skinny husband who has never made me feel fat. I married him when I was 270 pounds. He is soooo good looking and sweet. I always wanted to be one of those fat chicks you see on Oprah with a good looking husband! hahahaha. He is so supportive of this surgery. He is my Rock.
MARCH 9, 2006
I have a date!!!! April 24th, 2006. I am a little light headed. I just left Dr. White's office and I have not eaten anything yet and it is 12 noon. It's like - OH CRAP...WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO!!!!
Anyway....I was down 10 pounds from the last time I weighed in with Dr. White. My official starting weight will be 295. So that means I have 145 pounds to loose to get to my 150 goal!
I have all my pre-op testing April 6th, 2006.
APRIL 7, 2006
Well, I had all my pre-op testing today. It was not bad at all. Urine Test, Blood Test, EKG, Chest X-ray, and Upper GI. They also asked a bunch of questions and explained more things to me. I was in at 7 a.m. and out by 10 a.m.
I did however get a major headache from not eating since 4 p.m. the day before and no coffee! I have cut my coffee down to 2 cups a day and totally stopped drinking pop. I hope to be down to 1 cup by the time I have my surgery and then give up coffee all together after my surgery. I figure I will be suffering that week, what is coffee??? hahaha
Surgery is scheduled for April 24th. Two weeks and counting.
APRIL 23, 2006
It is the night before my surgery. I am all set to go. I really am not that nervous, I am more hungry than nervous! hahahahaha. They told me to stop eating at 9 p.m. and drinking water by Midnight. Well I decided I wanted my stomach good and empty so I stopped eating at 5 p.m., and I did not have that last meal. I have actually stuck to eating good all along. I have not had any pop, sweets or junk food what so ever. My last meal was a salad! I am so blessed to be having this surgery and I want to follow it to the letter. This is my last chance! This operation is a tool, and we have to remember that we can get fat again if we do not use it correctly! I am going to work my ass off (no punn intended) to loose and keep this weight off.
Welp, I will see you all on the loosing side!
APRIL 27, 2006
Hello, I made it, I am alive and feeling good. I am now on the loosing side! I can say I am not having much fun with this drain tube! I freaken hate it. It is not letting me do what I need to do and it is gross. However, it comes out
Tuesday, so I guess I will just take it.
As for my surgery, I did great! They even let me go a day early. I was really not in a lot of pain, other than my lower back from laying on it in surgery. I had no pain in my tummy. It was all in my lower back.
I tell you, Laparscopic is the way to go. I only used the morphine until 4 a.m. the night of my surgery, a couple of Vicatian until 4 p.m. the second day and I was done. I did not even fill my RX for Vicatian as I did not need it. I am not in any pain. I just hate the yucky drain tube thingy.
The people at Toledo Hospital are amazing. My care was excellent. I can not say enough about them!! They day staff seems to be a little busier than the afternoon and night staff, but over all, they were fantastic!!! I was very well taken care of. They really care about you and help you! They are a well oiled machine if you ask me.
I am having no problems with food or water. Everything is staying down and feels good. I do not feel hungry...just head hungry. I can't wait till next week when I have food I can chew. This liquid stuff is boring.
I finally had a pop today! That may sound silly, but I never go a day without pooping and it took me 4 days to go and boy did it feel good to let all that go! Never thought I would be so happy to have a poop!
I will keep you posted!
MAY 4, 2006
My weight is 279 (16 pounds gone forever!)
It has been well over a week since my surgery and I feel really good. I am not having problems with anything other than really loose stools from all the baby food I have to eat.
I can drink all my water no problem and eat what I am suppose to eat no problem either. However, I am not too happy with the protein powders in my food, so I am only using it in my pudding and I am drinking the rest through protein drinks. I currently drinking some PROFELT Protein, Wild Berry Cooler or something like that. I ordered the sample pack and I cut it with water and load it up with ice. Not bad. 23 grms of protein.
I have been off work 2 weeks and start back part time next week for one week. I feel really really good.
JUNE 6, 2006
Well, I have had my 6 week check up today. I am down a total of 31 pounds (264). I was hoping I would have more off by now, but my Dr. says I am only 5 pounds off the mark.
As far as problems....I HAVE HAD NONE. Thank God. Everything has been good with eating and drinking. I have been sticking with the basics and not venturing out too much with food. I am a creature of habbit and will stick with what I like to eat. I am too chicken to throw-up, so I do not cheat at all.
The one thing I do notice, I DO feel hunger. I know you are not suppose to feel it for months, and I know it is not head hunger...it is true hunger!
I also think I could add more exercise. I am not doing it every day and sometimes miss 2 days in a row. I start water aerobics on the 20th of June and I will add more walks in for the evening.
My goal is to be 250 by June 30th.
JULY 25, 2006
Today was my 3 month check up with Dr. White's nurse Kathy (who is so great by the way). I am down a total of 52 (243) pounds now. 58 from my highest weight of 301 in August of 2005.
I still feel I am losing very slow compared to others in the April group, but Kathy says I am right in the middle. There is a 30 - 40 % target I should be at, and I am at 34%. She is very pleased with my loss.
I am however losing much more inches than weight. I have gone from a 30/32 to a 22/24 and those are getting baggy.
I have not had any problems with anything. I have not thrown up once!!! I have felt iky a few times, but it passes very quickly after the food digests.
I have been following the rules to a tee. I have not cheated with anything bad for me. I have not let sugar touch these lips. I miss the fuzz of pop, but won't touch it!!!
My next check up is October 24th. I would like to be 200 by then!
I need to increase my exercise!!!
AUGUST 29, 2006
Thank you Erin for Jazzing up my page. You really did a nice job. I love it!!
Well, it has been a little over 4 months since my surgery. I am now at 230. That is 65 pounds gone, 71 from my highest weight. I have not been this weight since the early 90s!!!
I have been stuck on a plateau now for 3 weeks, but the scale starting moving again on Monday!!!
I am however loosing more inches than weight. I have gone from a size 30/32 to an 18/20.
Sept. 30 is my 41st birthday and my friends and I are all going to Casino Windsor. I would like to be 210 by then and a size 16. I started back at the gym last night for their new semester. I am taking weight training and aerobics. I am also doing more tread mill work.
Even though my weight has slowed down, I am still very happy with the 71 pound loss. I don't know any other way to loose that in 4-5 months.
I really don't care if it takes me a year to get to 150....I will get there!! Then it is a whole new ball of wax going after the Plastic Surgery. I kid my husband that I am going to have a boob job, tummy tuck, butt lift, bat wings, thigh lift and if there is any fat left, I will have them suck it out and put it in my lips!!! hahahahaha.
OCTOBER 4, 2006
Well, it has been a year since I started thinking about this surgery. I never thought I would get to this side. I did not think it would all happen so fast!
I am now 218 pounds...down from 295. That is 77 pounds gone forever!! I am loosing more inches than weight right now? I am almost in a 16. 18s are getting loose. My weight lose has slowed down a lot. Mostly because I can not find the time to exercise like I want to. My husband is away on business a lot and I have a 3 year old that will not stay in the child-watch at the YMCA without crying. Then they come and get me and I have to go home! I am working on that! None-the-less, I am still happy that the weight is coming off slow. It seems I plataue, then lose 10 pounds, plataue and lose 10 pounds.
I have my 6 month check up on October 24th. I would like to get to 210 by then. I will keep you posted!
OCTOBER 24, 2006
Well it has been 6 months! I had my 6 month check-up today. I weigh 210 pounds. A total of 91 from my highest and 86 from surgery. Dr. White said I am right on the button for weight loss. My blood work is perfect (even though I sneak a coffee here and there)!
I am doing great! I want to be under 200 by Christmas. When I hit 165 - 160 I will call the plastic surgeon for an appointment!
Next check up with Dr. White is in 3 months.
I have not had any problems other than loose stole when I have a BM, and I can live with that. I have not thrown up once! I follow the rules to a tee! I have not had a pop, or tried chocolate since before surgery.
My only regret is that I did not do this 10 years ago.
JANUARY 8, 2007
Happy New Year everyone! Sorry I have not posted for a while.
Weight loss is going slower now. I am 195 pounds. Down 106 from highest and 100 pounds from surgery. I still have 45 pounds to go till goal. When I hit 165 I am calling the plastic surgeon for a Tummy Tuck!!!
I still have not had any problems. I am doing everything I am suppose too. Following the rules! You really need to to make this a success.
I need to increase my exercise. I just can't get motivated in this cold! I hate winter! I don't like to go out in the cold and sweat!
I will post again soon.
JANUARY 31, 2007
Happy New Year. Hear I am 9 months out and 115 pounds down, wearing a size 14/16. Who would have thunk it? I am so happy.
Thank God, I have not had one problem and feel wonderful!
I had my 9 month check up today and I am still right on the button with my weight loss and blood work. According to the Dr. I have 31 pounds left till his goal and 36 pounds to my personal goal of 150. I have started the documentation for my Tummy Tuck which I wish to have in December of 2007.
God is good!
APRIL 24, 2007
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TODAY!!!
It has been 1 year since my surgery and I had my check up today. Little did I know it, but I past the doctors goal by 13 pounds. They expect you to loose 75% of your body weight and I have lost 88%.
I would like to loose 25 more pounds so I can weigh 150, but will take my time to do so!
Dr. White also told me I can start looking into plastic surgery anytime I want. I would like to have a TT and back lift this coming December! My butt and thighs I will do next year.
My arms and boobs are fine.
My blood pressure was: 100/60. My cholestrol total was 126 and I am off all medications! I feel like I am 20 again.
For any of you considering this surgery! JUST DO IT! I know there are risks and thank God I have not had one complication! But this tool to get you back into life is just amazing!
I am so happy I did it!
God Bless
Shelly
OCTOBER 1, 2008
2.5 YEARS SINCE SURGERY AND STILL MAINTAINING!
It has been 2.5 years since surgery and I continue to stay between 155 - 160. It is a struggle each day to pick the foods that are going to keep me on track. I WILL NOT GAIN THIS WEIGHT BACK!
In January of 2008 I had a lower body lift. I went from a size 14 to a 10. I am very happy with the results. However, I would like to have more PS done to my breats and back. Perhaps one day...but for now...I am just going to enjoy being slim and happy!
Shelly
