tiggheart
I have had my surgeon consultation (June 9, 2003). Getting tests set up and hopefully will be approved for surgery. Then comes the wait for insurance approval.
My surgeon is Dr. Brian Lane from The Bariatric Center in Ypsilanti, MI. I like him A LOT!!!!!
December 3, 2003
I had to do a 6-month physcian supervised diet to meet Aetna's requirements. I did that from May - November. BTC submitted my paperwork to Aetna on November 17. On the 26th I was denied. At this point it is a bit foggy as Aetna tells me they received no supporting documentation (medical records) for the 6 month diet. BTC tells me that they sent the medical records. BTC says they will start the appeal process once they have seen the denial letter. Of course, the denial letter seems to be held up somewhere in the mail. It's now 6 days after it was mailed and I still don't have it. BTC has not received a copy either. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
December 9, 2003
I finally got to the bottom of all this a few days ago. Seems that Aetna DID receive the medical files. They were just not happy with the way Dr. Brandenberger worded things and said that it appeared I was seeing him for things OTHER than my weight. Well... golly geeeeeeeee.... I had high blood pressure when I went in for a weight check and he changed my meds. Another time, I had a cold and an ear was bothering me. He looked at my ear! Seems to me that Aetna was looking for a "reason" to deny me and by digging deep enough they did it.
Dr. Brandenberger wrote an appeal letter. I wrote one and faxed them to BTC yesterday (Dec 8, 2003). Hopefully, they sent them along with their appeal letter to Aetna today. Now it's the waiting game again. Keeping my fingers crossed!
March 25, 2004
I haven't written here for a very long time. I guess I should have been doing that... but, well... didn't :) To catch you up, I was denied a second time... this time was due to "only 3 months of physician supervised diet".... hmmmmmmm thought for sure I turned in 6 months (and I did). They only accepted 3 months though... said I was seeing my dr. for other things the other 3 months.... well... golly geeeeeeeee.... what really happened was my dr. didn't write anything down about my dieting those 3 months even though that is WHAT the appointment was made for!
Anyway, was finally approved on February 26 and it took until today (March 25, 2004) to get a surgery date. Surgery will be on May 10, 2004. That is 1 year and 3 days since I started all this. It has been a LONG haul and I did get weary along the way. I felt like giving up more than once, but glad that I didn't. To anyone that is reading this and having problems getting insurance approval.... don't give up.... keep fighting!
I had to see my surgeon a second time as my first consult was 6/9/2003. He wanted to touch base with me again. I saw him yesterday (March 24). I guess I am going to do RNY lap. He wants me to lose 10-15 lbs before surgery. So, today I started my pre-surgery diet: high protein, fruit/veggies, lots of water and daily exercise. He said I WILL lose the weight if I do this. Ok... we shall see.
I am just so glad to finally be "official"..... can't wait to start my new life!
May 5, 2004
It's only 5 DAYS until my surgery!!!! This week is flying by and I know its going to be happening SOON! I am so excited. Not nervous at all but, nerves will probably kick in sometime before surgery. I went to the store with my grocery list last night. I am all set for when I return home. I have JELLO..... JELLO...... JELLO.... JELLO.... did I mention that I have jello? LOL
I just got a phone call from BTC telling me that my arrival time is 6 AM... I am first! yippeee... that works for me. I didn't want to have to sit around all day waiting on this surgery. I have done SO much waiting... I deserved a break! lol
May 29, 2004
It's now 19 days since my surgery. All went very well. I had sugery on Monday (RNY/LAP) and went home on Wednesday. I have lost 19.5 lbs since the day of surgery and 24.5 lbs from my highest pre-surgery weight. I feel great with the exception of getting tired easily. I am SO glad I had this done and am looking forward to my new, thinner life!
July 12, 2004
I have passed my 2 month mark. I feel wonderful. I have had absolutely no problems... not been sick, etc. I can eat all foods now (except sugar, of course) and still watching my fat intake. I haven't tried anything with sugar as I don't want to know if I dump or not. Figure if I don't know, then I can assume that I will. Sugar is what made me fat to start with... Why would I want to go back?
I weighted today (227.5). Have made it to my first personal goal..... that was to be under 228. 228 is what I weighed after I had my knees replaced... the lowest I had been in years.... now I am TRUELY on my way down!!!!
December 3, 2004
Wow... been a LONG time since I have updated this profile.... soooo sorry... BUT.... I now weigh 184 lbs (down 83) and I do feel tiggerifficcccccc :) I can't wait to be a member of the century club. If I keep losing at the rate I have been, I should make that about the 1st of February.
I now wear 12-14.... even fit into size 14 jeans... AWESOME!!!! I LOVE THIS SURGERY!!!!
Jan 12, 2005
I have now passed my 8 month anniversary and am down 95.5 lbs. I look in the mirror and am not sure its really me!!! It seems like it has taken forever to get here but in other ways, its all happening too fast. My head is having trouble keeping up with my body. I want to lose at least another 20 lbs and then maintain. At times, I am scared that I might not stop losing and get too thin.... just more of the head stuff.
All in all, this has been a VERY positive experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel better.... I look better and I know I am healthier....
March 19, 2005
I am now over 10 months out and only 5 lbs from my goal of 150 lbs. I am wearing size small or 8-10!!! I would never have guessed I would get this small in a million years! Plus I know I am not done and will probably go down another size.
I still feel great and have had NO problems due to RNY. I feel it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have regained my health and enjoying life once again. It's AWESOME to have been given this gift!!!! If you are out there and contemplating this surgery, I say.... GO FOR IT WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE....... Just be sure to pick a great Dr. and facility. I HIGHLY recommend any of the Barix hospitals. I went to Ypsilanti, MI and it was absolutely wonderful; the whole process from pre-surgery to aftercare. They are the best!
NOVEMBER 25, 2005
Today is Thanksgiving Day and I am SO thankfor for Dr. Lane, Barix Clinics and RNY surgery!!!!!! I can't say enough!!!! There are NO words that can describe how my life has changed and how AWESOME life is now!!!!!!!! I am 21 lbs under my original goal, wear a very comfortable (and sometimes a bit baggy) size 4. My "dream size" before surgery was a 14... perhaps a size 12. I NEVER EVER in my wildest dreams thought I would end up a size 4!!!!!! But, let me tell you.... DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!!!! I have never been happier in my personal life.... EVER... and I am 58 years old and have had a pretty good life! :)
Another thing I want to address is the skin issue. I TOTALLY understand why it is necessary and desirable for some to have the skin removed, but for ME, I am not going to do any plastic surgery. I really have not turned out too bad. Now, that is not to say, I don't have lose skin and that sometimes I look at it and wish it would go away, but, I have experienced a lot of physical pain in my life and just don't want to go there (PS). I can keep it covered up and I do look great in my jeans :)
The face was a whole different issue with me though. I felt like I had aged 100 years when the weight began to drop off and began a search for skin care that would actually HELP me. I finally found a GREAT PRODUCT and I am SO IN LOVE with this product, I want to tell the world about it!!!! I am not talking about "make-up". I am talking about SKIN CARE; cleansing, toning, moisterizing, etc. - making those wrinkles and sags diminish... LOOKING BETTER AND YOUNGER! If you want to know more about it, please email me at [email protected] Put SKIN in the subject line. I will also be happy to send you some samples of our Anti-Aging line (which anyone over 20 needs!). JUST ASK for a sample kit.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!!
December 4, 2005
I'm getting compliments on how great my face (skin) looks almost daily now... things like "WHAT are you using on your face?", "You keep looking younger and younger!", "What have you done to your face?", "I don't know what you are using on your face, but if it's doing THAT much for you, I WANT SOME TOO!"
YOU can be experiencing these same kind of compliments withOUT plastic surgery also! ASK ME HOW!!!!!!! Email me at [email protected] and put SKIN in the subject line!
July 17, 2006
Wow, can't believe how long it has been since I updated this profile. Bad me :) The thing is, my life is so full and BUSY now that I just don't have much extra time at all and what bit of time I do have I just hop into the chat room to see what is going on and who is there.
I just looked at my picturetrail photos and what I see NOW is that I don't look all that thin to me like I once did. It seems this whole thing is a continual mind game.... when I first got to a size 4, I felt so tiny... compared to almost everyone else in the world... now I look at myself and really can't tell if I am fat or not. I keep asking Dave if I look like I have gained and he says.. no, silly.... but now when I say I want to lose 5 lb he doesn't give me grief like he once did and tell me I am TOO skinny now... think he is used to the way I look now too and I don't seem so small to him either.
It's really hard to explain and I probably sound like a whacko, but I really have trouble seeing that I am thin now.... I am maintaining well at 132-135 lbs but it scares me to think I might get over 135! My 4's still fit nicely (not baggy like they were when I was 129) and I just NEVER want to be larger than a size 4. That almost seems rediculous to even be saying since at one time I thought I would be perfectly happy at a size 14!!!! But, there is NO way I would be happy at that size now... I think a size 8 is fat!
I know I must be sounding weird, but like I said... head games.... this just messes with your head!
OK.... I'll quit it :) I go August 7 for my 2 year checkup. Yeah, I know I'm a bit on the late side but have just been so dang busy that I really forgot to make an appointment and then when I did, it took awhile to get in. They said it wasn't a problem though if I was not having any problems. And, I am not. This had been smooth sailing TOTALLY... 100% smooth sailing and relatively easy for me. I know that is not always the case with everyone so I feel very fortunate. Thank you God, for allowing me to have this surgery and for the good outcome. Now to keep it off!
MARCH 25, 2007
I am nearing my third year anniversary. I can't believe how fast these past 3 years have gone!!!! They have been truly amazing. I have never had a moment of regret. WLS for me has been one of the very best decisions I have ever made.
I have put on a few pounds... hang in the mid to upper 130's. My 4's are snug and since I don't like wearing snug clothes that bothers me. I squeezed into a size 2 the other day so its not like I am huge or anything..... but I liked it a whole lot better when my 4's were baggy. SO, I am going to try and get about 6 lbs off....
The biggest concern I have at this point is that I don't start letting a few lbs here and a few lbs here come creeping back. I know it's possible as I seem hungry all the time now. Plus in October I did what I said I would never do and that is eat sweets. I had a cupcake for my granddaughter's 3rd birthday party. I didn't dump.... NOT A GOOD THING! THEN, I started eating tootsie rolls... :( I got rid of the bag of tootsie rolls and have gone back to no sugar... if I want something sweet... I eat a piece of SF candy. For ME, sugar is evil and I can't have it....
I do take in too many carbs now... the plan is to cut them... now to stick to the plan! You see, they didn't operate on my brain..... and they won't operate on yours either. We all reach a point where we are back to the good ole willpower.... and THAT is the hard part!!!!! For me, surgery was easy... losing the weight was easy.... KEEPING IT OFF WILL BE THE HARD PART!!!!! BUT I WILL KEEP IT OFF!
