Vicki
OK guys.... below you can read my journey from top to bottom... but I am now going to update from up here.... so instead of having to scroll all the way down you can just start up here at the top.
April 17, 2007
Starting weight 236 current weight 156 - would I do it again YES! Am I happy with my band - YES!
I have had about 7 fills - that is the key newbies... stay ontop of your fills.... and I am down about 80lbs. I now do things that I never dreamed I would be able to do agian in my life. I ride my moutain bike with a group of girls 2 days a week... hard rides people! I play golf and keep up with my male buddies! I even wore a bathing suit at the beach! And get this... sometimes I tuck YEP tuck in my shirts.... and sometimes I even wear a belt! WOW!
I will spend some time updating my profile in the next few days but know that I love you all.. I miss you all.... and I will be around a bit more!
V
Well guys..you all dont know me... but I wanted to just jump in with both feet and become part of your family (if that is alright with you guys!)
I have been overweight pretty much my whole life but significantly overweight since the birth of my first child. Like I said - before that I was always *pleasantly plump* ie about 25-30 lbs overweight.
I remember in jr high eating grapefruit and dry chicken breast for lunch... so I can honestly say this has been a life long battle . Funny thing is.. in jr and high school I was really cute and carried my weight well... it never really adversly affected me.. I had the boyfriends... hung out with the football players etc... So as an adult, when I got heavier... I just thought i was the same chunky gal I always was... and you know what.. I think I have fooled a lot of my friends that I am not as heavy as I really am... I mean.. how many people 117 lbs over weight (and only about 5 foot tall) can do flips on the trampoline? Do the splits? Snow and water ski?
I will admit that as the weight has become more over the last 2 yrs...I am constantly in pain. I still think I am about 50lbs lighter... The pain (and the ill health affects of carrying so much wieght around) is really what is the main reason that I have opted for surgery.
Did you guys all see that BIGGEST LOOSER where they ran around the football feild.. and then put life jackets on that had weights on them (the weight represented the amount of weight they had just lost) and then re ran around the feild again? While watching that show, I realized what my body was going through EVERY DAY...DAY AFTER DAY... and I decided to put my foot down, and make this decision.
I have had my initial consult, my upper GI, my EKG and my psych consult. I am having an ultrasound of my gallbladder this week and seeing the cardiologist to get the ECHO done. Then I see my surgeon on the 27th of this month and we put in for insurance approval. I am just so excited to be where I am! 
2005
January 6th 2005
I went to the information meeting tonight with my husband. I have a BMI of 45 - but I was one of the smallest people at the meeting. Joey was really not to hip on the whole WLS idea. After learning more and actually seeing the WLS doc, he has changed his mind. I orginally had it in my mind that I wanted the Lap Band. After hearing all the complications etc with both surgeries I think I will be better off with the Rue N Y... hopefully the Doc will agree with me. I had had the patient packeage mailed to me so I had it ready to turn into Dr Kranhs gal Becky... she said she would call me to set up an appt. My referal ends on the 18th so they said they would call me soon.
January 10,2005
Becky called and I go to meet with Dr Krahn on the 13th at 4p! Woohoo!
January 14, 2005
Well what a day. After a long day at work I went to meet with Dr Krahn. I m et a really nice lady in the waiting room who was 3 days post op. Her husband asked me how long ago I had my surgery.. I felt guilty. But then I realized WHY SHOULD I GAING ONE MORE POUND B4 I HAVE THIS SURGERY? Anyways.. I got into meet the Dr. and was very impressed. He said I have 117 lbs to lose. He was very nice, I feel VERY comfortable with him. I have a battery of preops to do...
January 25, 2005
Called Becky to let her know that I have not heard from the nutrionalist regarding the 12 weekd mandatory class I attend. She told me that she would send in another request, she had sent one the week b4. But the 12 weeks actually started when I went to see Dr. the first time.
February 4, 2005
Had my upper GI today. It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. It wasnt pleasant, but not too bad. The radiologist said all looked good. that made me VERY happy!
February 10, 2005
Well today I had my gallbladder ultrasound. I was pretty surprised to see that it was of my entire abdomen. I feel really lucky because I will be soo darn healthy after this WLS because every aspect of my body has been looked at from the inside out! I spoke to Becky at Dr. Krahns office and she informed me that my insurance group now requires 3 office visits to my WLS prior to even thinking about giving and autho. She said if I truely have all my props done when I go I may be able to have her submit for authorization.
February 11,2005
I found out today that my therapist cannot give me the medical clearacne that I need to have this surgery. I called Becky at Dr Krahns office and she is going to try to get me into the psych on the same day I am down for my 2nd appt.
February 14, 2005
Whoopsie! Becky called me today and couldnt remember why she had my name and number written down... I reminded her about the psych consult and she said OOPS! She is working on getting me in to see psych. I got yet another answer on when she can submit for my surgery. So I guess I will just be nice to her and hope that she tries to do it early!
February 15, 2005
I went into Mission Viejo today to see a cosmetic dentist to have my teeth fixed. He wants 20K to do all the work. I have contacted Dr Dorfman (yeap the guy from extreme make over) and have an appt with him on May 25th. Only 2 days until my cardio consult - I am almost done with my pre ops!
February 17, 2005
Consult with Cardiologist
well.. here is a post that shows you what happend when I went to the cardiologists office.. the Doctor was awesome.. the staff sucks!
Well I really shouldnt complain... BUT I want to!
I have sailed through all of my preop stuff so far... I went to see the Cardiologist this afternoon and he was AWESOME! He was really sick ( blesss his heart) and had a mask on so not to infect anybody else. I could tell he just felt horrible.. Anyways.. his front office staff SUCKED! They were rude, inconsiderate, nosey and beligerant.
When I made the appt. about 4 weeks ago, I explained I wished to have the testing done pretty soon after my appt. as I was to see my surgeon on the 24th of this month. I was assured that any testing would be done with in days of my appt. and not to worry about it.
Well, wouldnt ya know.. that wasnt the case! I cannot get in for the treadmill for over a MONTH! I was really hoping to have my approval prior to that and now I cannot get the approval until AFTER the treadmill! That is sooo frustrating.
I explained the situation to the staff (very sweetly at this point to try to get my way) and they said A) That the information I gave them re: the amount of time to get in for treadmills was NOT correct, that they would NEVER give that information out. (then I told them I was a nurse**I am retired at 36 lol* a bit firm) and the front office girl gave me a dirty look and said B) I thought it said you were in real estate (why was she checking out my professions? What on earth would she need to have that information for?) then I was told that C) you can go elsewhere but (with a snicker) we are the ONLY Cardiaologist that your insurance company has a contract with. Then to top it off... I asked if they had a waiting list to get in sooner for the treadmill and the girl said (I am NOT KIDDING Here guys)... "We are too busy to call people when we have cancelations - you will just need to call here everyday to see if we have an opening"
Well guess what that snotty girl just assured that she has job sercurity ..... FLIPPIN' ANSWERING MY CALLS EVERY DAY from here on out! Ok.. I vented.. thanks for letting me do it too LOL
Feb. 22, 2005 Contacted Mission Heart today and they have no other place to do my treadmill nor do they have any cancelations. Will Call again in the AM.
February 23, 2005
I met with Paula, Maricella, Dianna and Kelly at Chuy's in Murrieta (we missed you Loni girl!) What a hoot we had... we ended up showing off our private tatoos in front of the restaurant ,,, toooo funny! If you have a chance to meet ANY of these ladies.. jump on it.. I can just tell they ALL are awesome people... and of course if you need avon... call Maricella!
UPDATE : Contacted Mission Heart today and they have no other place to do my treadmill nor do they have any cancelations. Will Call again in the AM..
February 24, 2005
2nd appointment with Dr Krahn
UPDATE**UPDATE**UPDATE
Well.. this am has been a busy one already! First off.. I have an ANGEL! She is known to you as Paula S and she lives and works VERY close to my own house!
I had lunch with Da' Girlz yesterday and was telling them about how awful the girls at Mission Heart in Murrieta treated me. I also explained how I have called everyday (including this am!) to see if they had any openings or cancelations for my treadmill. Well my angel decided to take matters into her own hands.. now mind you.. I dont have a treadmill scheduled for almost another 4 weeks... she made ONE phone call and BAM.. I am going in TODAY at 215 for my treadmill!
WOW... she just gave me another healthy 4 weeks of my life!
SO THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THIS SO CAL GIRL in her plight to become healthy! I had to reschedule my WL Dr.s appt. becasue it was today at 1.. but I rescheduled it for the 8th of next month.. ALL of my preops will be done by then... (except for the nutritional classes.. but they said that shouldnt hold me up... it isnt MY fault that they have not contacted me.. we have called them 3 times to get me in)......so THANK YOU PAULA S. YOU ROCK MY WONDERFUL ANGEL!
February 24,2005 Ok I got my official cardiac clearance today and I am set to have the psyche done and then BAM I should be ready.. I am beat.. off to bed... THANKS AGAIN TO MY WONDERFUL PAULA!
February 28th 2005
Well.. I spoke with wonderful Becky in Dr Krahns office today and she is so awesome! She was able to get my referal for my psyche consult that I am going to on Thursday of this week... BUT (here is the big butt! lol) I am still not signed up for the nutrition classes that I must have prior to surgery. I have to at least be enrolled an have gone to a few of them prior to the approval of my WLS. This is such a stupid and frustrating thing....
I WANT TO SAY THIS- I completely understand the importance of this informational class... however.. isnt it a bit overboard to require this and then not to make it available for the patient? I have the funds to hire a nutritionalist to coach me.. why cant I do this? If anybody knows the name of the nutrutionalist that Dr. Krahn and Prime Care (blue cross HMO) use can you please let me know so I can contact them directly and attempt to get enrolled in these classes? I wonder if anybody else has been held up on their surgery date because of this???
March 3,2005
Psyche eval was a no brainer! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Now all my preops are done (except for that stinkin' nutrtional class!)
March 4,2005
Spoke with a local RD - she and I have set up an appointment for one week from today. I will tell my surgeon about this when I see him on Tuesday.. I am hoping he submits me for approval when I see him in a few days.. wish me luck!
ps.. I started taking multivitamins (the kind my angel takes) as well as b12 sublingual.. i have been doing one protein shake a day as a meal replacement and have been attempting to watch what i eat... it is so hard tho knowing I wont be able to have my favoites again ... so I am enjoying a bit of snacks still.. but I will say I have cut soda out completely (I have only had like 3 sodas since seeing Dr Krahn) and alcohol has been cut completely... so I have made a decision about a month ago to just attemp to live my new lifestyle to see what I think of it.. I can do this... so I am looking forward to this journey!
Thursday March 10,2005
Robbie De Betta - my cousin had sucessful WLS today! I talked to him, he is feeling GREAT! Very little pain... and he is happy.
Went to see Dr. Krahn today.. we didnt really see eye to eye. I wanted him to submit for insurance autho today even though I have not had my nutrition class. He told me that NO he wouldnt do it.. I left his office with my feathers in an uproar and I think his feathers were a bit ruffled by my persistance.
Friday March 11, 2005
Called to try to get myself into the nutrition class that nobody else can seem to get me registered for. I left a message for the scheduler and then called Becky to make sure it was the right class I was trying to get into. She told me YES that was the right class... but Dr Krahn had decided to submit me for approval without the class under my belt.
Monday March 14,2005
Sad Sad day....my cousin Robbie De Betta died today of Pulmanry Embolism.. my family has decided that I will NOT be having the surgery.. I spoke with Dr. Krahns office and asked them to submit me for the lap band... My family feels much more comfortable with that choice... sad day....
March 22, 2005
Visit with Dr. Krahn - My husband came with me - He saw for the first time what I weigh... I am down to 227.5 lbs. - so I dropped 4.5 Since my last visit with the doctor. My husband and I had a list of questions for Dr. Krahn to answer which he did with patience and respect. The three of us have decided to go forward with the Lap LAPBAND and Dr. has started the paper work for approval process. Wish me luck!
PS ........ I LOVE MY NEW LOOKING PROFILE! THANK YOU RENE!
March 25, 2004
Well I contacted Dr Krahns office today and asked Becky if she had submitted my file for approval - she informed me that we were still waiting on the written approval of the psyche... grrrrr I kept her onthe line and I called the psyche myself.. I was told they would find my chart and fax it right over.. guess you really do have to be your own patient advocate during this process.
Future Update
April 21, 2005
Ok well since I get my surgery date tomorrow.. I guess I better do my handy dandy list of things I want to do!
1. Become as healthy as I can so I can enjoy the rest of my life HEALTHY becasue I DESERVE TO!
2. Be able to exersize without feeling like I am going to DIE - Believe it or not.. I think a Tri Athalon may be in my future!
3. Shop in the "regular" section of Robinsons-May etc. with my girlfriends so I dont have to PRETEND to be looking at shoes while I shope in the plus size section. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED Feb - 2006!!
4. Sail in a race again - sailboat racing is my passion - but who wants ONE crew memeber when you can have TWO for the same weight!
5. Get in and out of the car easily - so I dont have to make an excuse like "BOY THIS CAR IS LOW ... MY CAR IS RAISED" just to justify why I am struggling to get out of it. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED DECEMBER 2005
6. Wear a bathing suit in public.
7. Walk down the beach without looking like a whale washed up on shore and without feeling like everybody is staring at me thinking "BOY SHE REALLY SHOULDNT BE IN A BATHING SUIT IN PUBLIC."
8. Run around with my kids not get tired/winded.
9. Have my husband DESIRE me and want to make love to me.
10. Wear a cute neglige and have my hubby want to tear it off!
11. Wear short shorts again!
12. Paint my toenails by myself without having to put my leg up on the bathroom sink just to reach it over my belly. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED Dec 2005
13. Go in my jacuzzi with guests and not care if it is dark outside or not.
14. Wrap a towel around me - all around me - and not have half my body still sticking out.
15. Not have swollen feet from too much salt intake or too much weight bearing on them.
16. Walk between tables at a restaurant without bumping stuff off the table. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED Feb 2006
17. Not being the "fat" chick that gets the sympathy attention from the guys. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED FEB 2006!!!!!!!!!!!!
18. Wear single digit clothing.
19. Wake up pain free.
20. Never having to pull my shirt over my belly after I sit down to make sure it is covered up.
21. Walk into a bar/dance club and feel like people are looking at me because of how GOOD I look - not thinking DAMN she is fat. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED FEB 2006!!!!!!!!!!
22. Never again hear "You are very photogenic".. when I know they mean.. "damn girl for a fat chick you dont look too bad".
23. Never ever ever again - make a derogetory joke about myself in a group setting just to try to make it seem like I am OK with myself.
24. Get into a cute golf outfit and play a round of golf again.
25. Not embarass my kids/husband becasue of my appearance ever again.
26. Fit in a seat and feel comfortable : A few years ago at a hockey game with my family.. I stood up to cheer on the team and some jerky kid yelled HEY FAT LADY SIT DOWN.
27. Buy something without trying it on first and have it not be too tight! GOAL ACCOMPLISHED JAN 2006
28. Get my toenails done and not feel like the ladies doing the pedicure are talking about how fat my legs etc. are in another language. GOAL ACCOMPLISHED Feb 2006
29. Hear a cat call from a construction worker and KNOW it is for me!
30. LOVE WHO I AM!
Future Update
Well I am a bad bad girl.. One of my fellow OHers kindly pointed out that I had not updated my profile... THANKS GROOVE DADDY lol....
So here it is...
I had my LAP BAND installed (lol) on June 3rd - everything went well... I will say I was expecting it to be kinda like a MINOR outpatient type of pain.. .boy was I surprised.
I know we all handel pain differently .. am I am the first to admit I am a total wimp when it comes to pain... but dang that shit hurt.
OK here is how it went:
My husband and I got the kids off to school.. I tried not to cry.. which I didnt do until they walked out the door.. I wanted them to NOT WORRY about me... as soon as they left I sat down and wrote them each an email.. I told them that it was important for them to understand that mommy was not having this surgery because she wanted to "look pretty". I was having it because my lifelong bad eating habits had gotten me to a point that I needed to have this surgery for health reasons. I also explained that I wanted to be able to play with them and run and have fun... and if by chance I looked awesome then that was an added side benifit.
sooo off to the hospital we went... I had already preregistered so I went up to the bariatric floor right away.. my nurse was waiting for me and got me into my gown and started my hep lock (that is an IV without fluids) of course at that particular moment AUNT FLO decided to visit... grrr apparently that is pretty normal tho.
So I was sched. for a 9 am surgery.. I was the second case.. I had met the lady that was the first case.. her name was Beth and she worked kinda in the same field as my hubby.. so we hit it off at the pre op class at the docs office... well needless to say.. Beth was scheduled for the lap band but had complications and ended up with and OPEN RNY... and that made my surgery WAY WAY late...
So they took me down to the OR around 12... I kissed my hubby goodbye and sent him off to eat....
My good friend from OH - Theresa C showed up and sat with Joey throught the day and early evening.. she wanted to see me but my surgery was so late she had to get home.. but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Theresa for spending her day with my hubby.. I KNOW it helped him tremedously.. he didnt have to watch "bad TV" all byhimself.. it really is important to have someone at the hospital with your family that has been there done that before... it just makes them a bit more comfortable...
anyways... I finally had my surgery around 230 or so... I wasnt back into my room until about 7p or so they tell me.. I was pretty out of it.. I remember being pretty uncomfortable when I woke up.. I wanted to make sure I was still alive.. then I wanted to make sure I had the lap band ... and that is was done lappy...
So.. I remember Joey putting the phone up to my ear to talk to the kids and my sister in law .. other thatn that those first few hours I was outta it..
BUT By midnight I was up and walking the halls.. and then that was it.. I walked and walked and walked... my cousin had passed away after gastric bypass just a few months prior and I wanted to make sure to walk walk walk to avoid any possibillites of blood clots....
I went home the next afernoon after my swallow test showed everything was working fine....
I lost pretty quickly.. I think I lost about 15 lbs that first week... I have not lost as quick as my RNY buddies but I know in time it will come off.....
I still have food issues....I still understand that sometimes I just eat to eat.... I have tried to start other hobbies.. I have tried to get out of the house more often then just sitting around....all and all I LOVE MY BAND!
August 19, 2005
I had my first FILL on Tuesday of this week.. I am officially down 22.5 lbs. I have been fighting with 4lbs that keep coming and going on my scale... I go between 207-211..... The fill was pretty simples.... numb ya up.. stick the needle in... fill ya up LOL....
As of today.. I am glad to say my scale shows me at 205 for two days.. I am only 5lbs away from the ONEderfuls! Hopefully I can get there by next week... I have an aweful cold and so I am not exercizing at all.....
October 1, 2005
Well.. what a month... First of all I am only at 203 ..... I cannot believe how hard it is to DIET.... as you see this appliance I have does not work correctly until you have a few fills.. I have had two fills... I need another... I am feeling SOMETHING a bit different than before... woudl I call it restriction.. um no... but something...
My angellette Barb McGraw has been through the wringer... she went for a fill... got too tight... by the time they had figured out she had a kink in her tube she had already aspirated some of her slime into her lungs... she is in the ICU fighting pnuemonia... she will be fine... just a tough battle for her.... lets make this a learning expirience... DRINK BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR DOCS OFFICE FROM YOUR FILLS.... AND you dont have to be soooo tight....
One of our friends on this board passed away 2 days after his long awaited WLS... John Ott will be forever in my heart.. I only met him once.. but what a sweet kind wonderful man he was... his funeral was a beautiful Mass... and a wonderful celebration of his life....
For those of you reading this pre op... follow your dreams.... if you feel this is the right thing for you - and you are informed - and you are willing to do whatever it takes to become healthy..then you are on the right path!
July 15th, 2006
Well it has been just over a year. I am down over 50lbs and am happy as can be. I can definately see where I am going to need a TT and maybe a new set of girls that sit up high!
I went to American Eagle today and they had a special.. try on a pair of jeans and get a fee movie ticket.. I thought HELL THEY DIDNT SAY FIT IN A PAIR.. So I asked the sales girl what the largest size jeans was that they carried.. she told me 14.. so I had her get me a pair and GUESS WHAT THEY FIT! OMG I cannot believe it.. that is not like a ladies store.. that is a teeny bobber store.. I am so happy.. thrilled to be exact.
I am so physically active.. I now play golf 4 days a week.. I have joined 2 womens league and one couples league with my husband... I wear SHORTS in public.. I even wore a bathing suit when we had company the other day. I now where short skirts with heels to work... tank tops... and my double chins are gone....
I will go in after the summer and have my blood work done and check my cholestorol etc. I am SURE it is going to be wonderful. I am so happy with my band. I do wish I had the rapid weight loss that the RNY have... but I am getting skinnier and figure by next summer I should be in bikinis with my new twins and tummy.. hell it didnt take me overnight to get so fat... I can wait.
LOVE TO YOU ALL!
