Marla M.
11/21/05- I have been battling weight most of my life. Some years have been worse than others. I think 2005 has been the worst year of my life so far. My weight has went higher on me for one thing. In May of this year, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was one of the most horrifying things I have had to deal with. There is no cure for this disease, only treatment. The treatment is not guaranteed to stop it. Every person with MS is different. I sit and worry about things such as " Will I be able to stand proudly and watch my son graduate?" " When my son has children of his own, will I be able to wrap my arms around my grandchildren?" I have went thru severe depression and questioned God many many times. I am now at the point where I want to do something about this. I know that losing weight and making myself healthier will also help my MS. Right now with the weight and the MS, I am unable to exercise. I stay tired 24/7. I have no will to want to do much of anything but hide in my house. I talk to God daily and ask him to please let me get approved for this surgery. I feel like this might be my last hope to being healthy again. On December 9th, I will be going to the seminar at Vanderbilt Hospital. Then, on December 12th, I have an appt with the NP for the initial evaluation. I'm excited but trying not to get my hopes up in any way. I have not had the best of luck latey.
December 20, 2005- Tonight I attended my seminar for the Lapband. The doctors name is Dr. Walter Rose. I was very impressed with him. He also had some of this staff with him. Everyone was extremely helpful and was willing to answer any questions that anyone had. Dr. Rose said he would stay as long as he needed, to answer any private questions that anyone might have. Dr. Rose is a strong believer of aftercare. One of the things that impressed me was the aftercare program. After your surgery, they want you to work out in their fitness area. They appoint you a personal trainer to work with and help you with cardiovascular and strengthing exercises. Its a private center and only WLS patients workout there. The first three months of this is free. If you want to continue with this fitness, they give you a special fee you can pay every month or they will help you find a gym closer to you that you can be comfortable with. I want this soooooooooo badly. I want to be healthy again for myself AND my son! I have to keep the faith that I will be approved. I refuse to give up.
12/30/05- Christmas has come and gone. I had a really nice Christmas but I am glad its over. All the food!!!!! I have been on FMLA from work since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Well right before Christmas, my company was nice enough to call me and let me know that they are terminating my employment because I have used all of my FMLA. What a Christmas present huh???????? They informed me that when I was able to return to work, I can reapply and they would gladly rehire me. Yeah right! Like I will be going back there!
My PCP has been totally awesome with assisting me in trying to get this WLS approved. I dont know how I was lucky enough to find someone like her that I can be totally happy with and totally trust all her judgements. I found her when I was diagnosed with my MS. She has been in my corner thru everything. She was helping me even when I didnt want to help myself.
I have filled out all of my packet that I can. Now all I can do is wait for my consult visit. It seems like such a long time away, but it will be worth it in the long run.
1/01/06- Happy New Year! I never like to make New Years Resolutions because most of the time I never stick to them. This year WILL be different though. My New Years Resolutions is to have the lapband surgery, lose an insane amt of weight, spend lots of time with my son, find happiness within myself again. All these things are obtainable this year. I even cooked blackeyed peas, turnip greens and hog jowl for good luck today! lol I pray that this year is a new beginning for me and my son.
01/23/06- I was scheduled to have my first visit with my surgeon tomorrow but due to things beyond my control, the appt was rescheduled to 02/07/06. I am a little bit disappointed, but I figure that I have been fat for years and years so a couple more weeks isnt going to hurt me! I love reading the message boards here. I cant wait until I can post a message telling everyone that I am on the losing side with the rest of them!
04/23/06- I am trying to get my profile updated and also trying to see if I can post pictures here! I will update more later. In the meantime, I HOPE for pictures of my son to be seen below this!
04/26/06- Well, here I go again. Its been quite a while since I have posted anything. The reason for that is because of my insurance troubles. I lost my BCBS when I was terminated from my job due to my Multiple Sclerosis. Now I am on JohnDeere TennCare. I tried to find a surgeon that accepted this insurance but I couldnt find one in the whole state of Tennessee. So now, my PCP is writing me an out of network referral. My insurance has found Dr John Wright at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. He has agreed to accept me thru out of network referral. My PCP is in the process of writing me a letter of medical necessity to fax to Dr Wrights office. I am going to call Vanderbilt tomorrow and go ahead and get me set up for their seminar. That will be one thing out of the way. I really hope that it will happen this time. I am starting to get discouraged. All I can do now is pray and wait. God I hate the waiting game! lol
5/01/06- I think my PCP has finally got all the paperwork to Dr. Wright's office. I am scheduled for a consult on July 19th. That seems so very far away, but I figured that if I have been fat for this long, then I can go a few more months. May is going to be a very hard month for me. I lost my grandfather one year ago on May 5th. I started having symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis on May 7th, which is also the same day we buried my grandfather. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and put in the hospital on May 21st. My baby will be turning 11 on May 9th. My grandfathers birthday would have been May 27th. My dad and my nieces birthday are both on May 6th. So as you can see, its going to be a total emotional rollercoaster ride this month. I have my possible WLS to keep me moving forward though. I love celebrating my sons birthdays, he always gets way to much from me. He is so spoiled. Guess thats one of the perks of being an only child.
July 12, 2006- My consult with Dr Wright is one week from today. I have my psych evaluation completed and all of my paperwork turned in. All I am waiting on now is the consult and for them to turn everything in to my insurance. I am trying really hard not to get my hopes up until I hear something from my insurance, but its so hard not to. This surgery can change my whole life. I need this surgery for my health. Within the past two months, I have been diagnosed with diabetes, bad thyroid, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, bad gall bladder, and the list goes on. I am just going to leave everything in God's hands. He knows whats best for me. I just hope that I get approved!
September 14, 2006- I swear this journey has been the wildest rollercoaster ride of my life! I have had appointment after appointment for my consult with the surgeon, only for each one to be cancelled due to some kind of information needed. I THINK and PRAY that everything needed has been turned in now. I received a call from Dr. Wrights assistant, wanting to schedule another appointment. She said she now has everything needed in order to turn in to my insurance company. She asked me when I could come, I told her to name the time and I would be there with bells on! She asked if there was anyway I could come tomorrow and my answer was YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Soooooo, I have to be at the doctors office tomorrow morning at 9:30am for my evaluation for surgery. I pray to God that this journey is coming to an end. I have been discouraged and let down so many times recently over all of this. I just dont think I have any more fight left in me if it doesnt happen this time. All I can do right now is turn it over to the good Lord and hope that everything comes out ok.
September 15, 2006- I met Dr Wright today. I was very pleased with him. Hes very professional and doesnt beat around the bush about anything. Hes very up front about all of the possible risk, including death. He is very indepth about everything because he wants you to really realize the steps that you are attempting to make. Now its just a waiting game. Waiting for the surgeons office to get all the paperwork together to send in to my insurance for approval. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
October 11, 2006- I called my insurance company today and found out that I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR SURGERY! I cant even begin to describe the joy and the other feelings that filled me when I heard those wonderful words. This is a chapter of my life that I need so badly. Not just for myself, but for my son as well. He is also battling obesity at 11 years old. I want to help myself so I can help him. I dont want him to struggle thru life with a weight issue hanging over his head. I knew I would be thrilled if I ever heard that I was approved, but I never imagined the feelings that I would have. I cant stop crying!!!! lol I am ready ready ready for this phase of my life. All I can say is THANK YOU GOD!!!!!
October 13, 2006- I talked with my surgeons office today. My surgery has been scheduled for November 7th!!!!!!!! I cant tell you how totally excitied and thrilled that I am. I have really got to start getting myself in gear now. I havent even started thinking about protein things or anything like that. woo hooo Losers HERE I COME!
About Me
Before & After
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