sherry636
Sept.2,2007
It has been awhile since I have updated. I have lost 67lbs since my surgery. I feel great. My heart rate and blood pressure is really good. My meds have been cut in half. Can't wait to be off them altogether.
I haven't lost any weight in 2 weeks, but I haven't gained any either. I know this is just a slump and it will start back up again. I haven't had any really bad dumping syndrome. Chinese food makes me feel awful.
I have had lots of hair lose. I keep taking in more and more protein but my hair keeps falling out. I have considered a short hair cut so I don't have long hair all over my clothes.
There are so many great people on this site that have kept my spirits up when I didn't think it was possible. Lana you are a very sweet lady and I thank you so much!
My Story:
I have been overweight most of my life. I have 1 daughter that is 22 yrs old and a son 17 yrs old and a step son 17 yrs old. I also have 2 granddaughters that are of the light of my life. They are 1 yr old and 3 yrs old. I have been married for almost 2 years.
I am a CNA in a skilled nursing home. I love working with the elder.
I tried 5 years ago to have wls. I was turned down by my ex husbands insurance company and just gave up. I tried every yoyo diet there was. With little or no success.
A few years ago I started having health problems. First came the HB and I held water really bad. Then last August the doctor thought I had a heart attack. Well I had a nuclear stress test and my dr called and said by the pictures it looks like I had had a heart attack. So I was scheaduled for a caridic cath. I was prepared for the worse. After my cardic cath the dr came in and said no blockage heart muscle squeezes very well. We were all in shock but very happy. But no explanation of why my blood pressure was off the charts and my heart rate was really high. They put my on meds for my heart rate and blood pressure and told me I couldn't work until they were under control. The dr sent me for a sleep study and I have sleep apnea. I also have a hyatial hernia.. So I went back to my family dr and asked him if I would be a good canadite for wls. He started talking so fast I couldn't understand him. he told me he thought wls was safer than diet pills. So he refered me to Dr. Van Wagner. He told me they would call me be patient. Well it is hard to be patient when you are just sitting in a chair and your heart rate jumps to 130 bpm. So I got on the computor found Dr Van Wagners web site and called them myself. They told me to download all my papers I needed right from there website and fill them out and send them back and they will call with an appointment.
I filled them out and sent them in and 2 days later they called me and set up my first appointment. I asked his nurse what all I needed for the insurance company. She said sometimes these things can takes months even years for the insurance to approve wls. So I had my to-do-list.
I got on the phone set up my seminar, phsy, and dietician. Called all my drs to get them to fax all my records to Dr Van Wagners office. My family dr typed up a letter of medical neccasity. In 1 week I had all my to do list done. Now it was in the insurance hand.
My husband being in the painters union for 30 years called them. He talked to the lady handling my review and his union rep. He told them he had never asked anything from the union and he was asking for this to go threw. They told him they had 14 business days to make there dicission. Well 14 business is 1 day shy of 3 weeks. On the 12th business the phone rings and it was the unnion hall. She said she wanted to personally call and tell me I was APPROVED.
I was shocked to say the least. I was expecting them to say no. I called Dr Van Wagners office and told them and called the insurance for the approval letter. Then they called me to set up a surgery date. When she said I could pick a date in the week of april 9th I said that soon! I expected a 3 or 4 month waiting list. So I went with April 9th.
I know I am probably a rare case that got approved so fast. I thank God for my husband being in the Union. We got to talk with the same person all the time.
I am so ready to lose all this extra weight. I can't wait to be able to chase my grandkids around without having to sit down and catch my breath or worring my BP or HR with go sky high. I am ready to get rid of that cpap machine.
We love to go trout fishing and camping. I have never been able to wear chest waders (and feel comfortable) I will be glad to lose weight and buy a pair. Then I can go out in the river and fish next to my son.
