Valerie03

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Ok, So I just logged back in for the first time in over a year- WOW! And somewhere I lost most of my profile. I had a very elaborate blog with tons of updates- so I guess I will try to just sum all up in this post. Finally had RNY on May 17 2004, with Dr Babineau. Ended up paying for it myself. (still paying for it almost 5 years later...) Everything went fine- no complications. I lost 250lbs total, but at this point Ive put some back on. The weightloss journey has been an amazing one. I had a breast lift with implants/arm lift 18 months later. So far thats the only plastic surgery Ive had. I need a lower body lift so bad- but I cant afford it, and it would be pointless before Ive had my kids. Maybe one day....thats my long term goal at least. My short term goal is to lose the 40lbs that I gained when I got married! I got married Feb 10, 2007. A dream I never thought would come true! I got pregnant 6 months later- and now I have the most beautiful baby boy, Elijah. He was born May 8, 2008. He is almost 8 months old now, and is sooo silly!! I did not have any problems with the pregnancy, except low iron, which I had before I even got pregnant. I was able to eat enough for me and him, and he weighed 7lbs 13oz when he got here!!  I had a perfect, textbook labor and delivery...except my blood pressure dropped to 50/20 and would NOT come up when they gave me the epidural- their solution was to cut my epidural back- which wasnt great for me- but other than that everything was perfect! Im gonna try to post pics of me, and my new family!! And once again- my new years resolution is to get some weight off- before we try for kid #2!

Summer of 2003- I first really learned about gastric bypass surgery from a lady I met who had it. She and her other family members who have had the surgery have been very successful. She encouraged me to check into it and see if the insurance would pay. I got the number to her surgeons office in Dallas Texas. And so began the long process of my WLS experience!

July 19th 2003- I went to a seminar today in Dallas with Dr. Lawrence Barzune. I was referred to him by a lady I know. I felt like Dr B knew what he was doing and I felt comfortable with him. I did not get to meet him one on one but I got my information packet and brought it home to fill out and send in for the insurance. I have also been doing a a lot of insurance research and I now know that my insurance will not pay. They suck. Im gonna try anyways, but there is no use in telling myself that they will pay when I know deep down that they wont. More later...

August 1st 2003- I finished filling out the paperwork and I sent it
back in to the doctors office. Ive already called the insurance company and they have told me that they do not cover this surgery no matter how medically necessary it is. Isnt that nice and thoughtful of them? Well, Im gonna let the doctors office try anyways.

August 18th 2003- I got the letter in the mail today confirming what I
already knew. The state of Texas insurance has a written contract
exclusion that they will not pay for WLS or any other methods of weight loss. I hate them. But thats ok. I dont give up that easy. Ive already made an appointment with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission to see what they can do for me. We shall see...

August 23rd 2003-I went to Texas Rehab Today. The lady is basically scheduling me to go to an endocrinologist to get a thyroid/hormone workup. We dont know anything yet. She is gonna make me go to the endocrinologist and see if he can find a secondary; health problem. They say obesity isnt a disease on its own. With the Texas Rehab Commission (TRC), you have to have a health problem that prevents you from working. They do whatever necessary to rehabilitate you and send you back to work. So I will have to wait and see what they say. Cross your fingers...

September 6th, 2003- I got a letter from TRC today. My appt with the
endocrinologist is OCTOBER 13th!! Thats more than a month away! UGH! I also heard that with the TRC, they wont pay for your gastric bypass surgery unless you have been on a medically supervised diet for at least 6 months. So Im going to my PCP tomorrow to see what he can do. I wanna get the ball rollin on this. Also, Im now working 3 days a week at a daycare. Its fun. I love kids. And if I ever want any of my own I have to have WLS...just one more reason I need this surgery.

September 9th 2003- I went to my PCP and he put me on Xenical. Its a fat trapper...its supposed to make me have oily poop if I eat something high in fat. So I better be close to a bathroom when I eat!

October 14th 2003- Well, the Xenical doesnt really seem to be working too much because Im not really having the "negative" side effects Im supposed to be having. Weird Huh. I had a weird episode yesterday at work. It was this really sharp burning pain in my right side and back and right underneath my ribs. It only lasted about 2 minutes. Mom said it sounded like gallbladder...maybe if I have gallstones I can file that on the insurance and just pay cash for the actual gastric bypass. Sounds like an idea to me! Oh yeah, the appointment with the endocrinologist went well. He said I had no health problems at all and he would write TRC and clear the path for me to have gastric bypass. Yeah! Sounds like one way or another I will be having this surgery!

October 18th 2003-I had another weird pain episode today. It was a
little longer and the pain was a little more intense. I have made an
appointment with my PCP for the 20th to see what he thinks. My mom told me just to eat bland foods so if it is my gallbladder I wont irritate it! Just what I need...another diet.

October 23rd 2003- I had my appointment with my PCP and he thinks its my gallbladder...then yesterday I had an ultrasound and the guy said Im loaded with gallstones! Where did they come from? Who knows...well, this could be good or bad. Texas rehab sent me a letter and said that since I have no other health problems, they will not put me in their weight loss program. They say I have no disabling condition. Oh thats right, I only weigh 3 times what I should...thats perfectly ok for a 19 year old. What morons! Anyways, now I might be able to use my gallbladder as a way to get the insurance to pay...for that part at least. It would make it cheaper for me. I told my PCP I wanted to wait until Christmas after my finals to have my gallbladder out. He doesnt seem to think I will make it that long. Hes making me go to a surgeon...NOW...just incase I get into an emergency situation. UGHHHH!!

October 29th 2003- I had the WORST gallbladder attack ever! I thought I was dying! My parents took me to the ER but by the time we got there it had stopped so we went home. I have never felt pain this bad in my life. I went to see my PCP for some pain meds today. I just needed them to get me through till Nov 12th to see the surgeon. Well, his office called the surgeons office and they worked me in today. And guess what, my gallbladder removal is next wednedsay. That is CRAZY! Oh well, I cant eat anything except soup, jello, grilled cheese, apple juice, oatmeal, and water. So the sooner the better. Actually, he wanted to do it this week BUT I have a test next Tuesday so he said we could try to wait.

November 8th 2003- Had my gallbladder out...laparoscopically. All went well, I came home the next day. Im up and about and BORED because my mom wont let me go to work. I work at a daycare and Im not supposed to be lifting kids for a while. But praise the Lord I can eat real food now! But I did lose 17 lbs in a week from not eating anything but soup. I could write a book called "The Chicken Noodle Soup" diet. Instead of Jared from Subway I can be Valerie from Campbells. LOL! I'll update more later

November 12th 2003- My dad got approved for financing the surgery. So now I get to have it as soon as Im ready. But Im waiting till June, I wanna take a few more classes and work the rest of the year. Im just excited to know that now i DO get to have the surgery! Also, Im changing surgeons. Im going to use Dr Hugh Babineau in Tyler Texas. It was just too expensive in Dallas AND Tyler is much closer! I will call after the first of the year to get my initial consulation with him. I cant wait!

November 26th 2003- Well, Not much news...but I have been wanting to meet with someone who has used the surgeon in Tyler that I want to use. Well, tonight in the chatroom, someone came in and I noticed she was from texas. I read her profile and SHE HAD USED THE SAME SURGEON! I sent her a message and we talked for like 3 hours! She only lives 30 minutes from me. Her husband also had the surgery. They were both very successful as well as their friends who have had it done. She was so sweet and I know she must have been tired but she talked to me anyways and answered my questions. THANKS MARYANN! She was only 2weeks postop! And she offered for her husband and her to meet me and my parents for us to ask them questions and stuff! Isnt she awesome? THANKS Anyways, so no news on surgery...because im waiting till January to make my inital appt with the surgeon...but just wanted to let you know what a blessing this chatroom has been!! MORE LATER...