Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
  • entries
    58
  • comments
    80
  • views
    6,720

About this blog

My Trip will begin on January 3rd

Entries in this blog

 

one step closer

I'm feeling pretty good right now. My session down town went REALLY well(psyche eval). He was very impressed with my research and in fact said that I was by far one of the most educated about the lap band procedure before and post surgery that he had tested and talked to. He feels that I am an extremely good candidate. the tests summary was basically "Tracy is a very warm and friendly person who tends to bend over backwards for others and likes for everyone to get along. She also has a good head on her shoulders. Im' pegged as suffering with very mild depression brought on strictly by my weight and not feeling well.   So.. NOW, he writes up a report and a letter of recommendation, faxes that in to Dr. Morton, then assuming they have all the paper they need, they will fax to BCBS of TN then we sit and wait, then wait some more.. then.. well, wait some more.  
synicalchick

synicalchick

2
 

oh oh oh

I'm a nervous wreck.. Dr. Morton's office just called and they faxed all of my paperwork (over 400 pages) to BCBS. They said it would be 2-4 weeks before we know something. They also said with the food journal included (which accounts for the bulk of the pages) I would be hard to turn down, however, I'm trying REAL hard not to get my hopes up. If I can just mentally count on being denied then I'll be pleasantly surprised right? Ugh.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

OH Mah GAH If you would have told me that a soft boiled egg smashed up w/ a small pat of magerine would make me moan and roll my eyes up in my head I would have LAUGHED MY A$$ off at you. Well, I just ate one and that's what happened. DEEEEEEEEElish
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

mmmmmmmmmmm

Alrighty.. It didn't show up at all. Oh well. I posted it on the scar stage thread. I'm at home now and have my prescrip for Thrush. She said that some of the patients get it from the antibiotics. My resistance was low because of the surgery so it didn't take much.   I get to gargle this lovely tasting stuff 4 times a day...
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

is it tomorrow yet???

Well, it's the day before my surgery and this is how it's gone so far. 6:00: UGH.. wanted to wake up early so I could pick some things up at the store before work. Oh well, I'll at least be on time any way. 6:15: mmmmm I'm so glad I did laundry yesterday so I can wear my most favorite soft cotton knit pale pink shirt to work. 6:37 while in truck: ACK! NO NO NO! chocolate protein drink ALL OVER MY PINK SHIRT. Can I cover with my badge... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Not even. Well, haven't passed Wal-mart yet.. I'll stop anyway and get new shirt. 6:50 in Wal-Mart OH MY GAH... I'm starting to cramp.. I can't BELIEVE I'm starting TODAY. Better get tampons and Tylenol, even though only ibuprophen works.. I can't take ibuprophen before surgery per Dr... Please let extra strength Tylenol work... 7:15 get to work... LATE wearing new scratchy, fit's a little big, pink shirt that isn't NEAR as cute and comfy as the one laying crumpled in the bottom of the floorboard with massive chocolate stains on it shirt. 7:30 stuffed 4 chewable Tylenol go tabs in mouth... cramping so bad I'm sweating and I want to punch something or tear all of my hair out... NOT exaggerating. 8:00 Cannot concentrate on ANYThing cramping is so bad. Tylenol SUCKS 8:30 ran into friend, Shannon in bathroom, she has a cherry pit heating pad that you heat in the microwave... temped to kiss friend 8:45 nuke pad for 3 minutes.. is so hot have to put thick papers on leg to protect but FEELS REALLY GOOD on left side that is somehow hurting worse than the rest of my uterus/right ovary. had two cups of BLACK coffee 9:00 Call surgeon to beg him to let me take my ibuprophen.. left message 9:10 they called back to tell me it was ok to take 9:10 and 1/2 inhaled ibuprophen, reheated cherry pit thingy for the 3rd time and waited for some relief. 9:40 FINALLY getting some relief but feel loopy for taking ibuprophen on top of four Tylenol. 11:00 life is back to normal except for incredibly annoying new pink shirt that rides up and makes my already huge rack look three times as big.... and the burn spot on the left side of tummy. 1:13.. time for more pills. I'm not eating at all today.. just doing my EAS shakes. Be glad when tomorrow's procedure is done and over so I can quit thinking about it.
synicalchick

synicalchick

3
 

incisions & tanning/sun

I tan and found this to be helpful. Sunning, Tanning Booths, & Surgery   While having a golden tan is lovely to look at - it damages the skin. Tanning is a personal choice, but it's important to know the results of doing so in conjunction with your surgery.   No one ever healed skin cancer by getting a tan. If tanning improved our skin there would be no need for sunscreens and all the media messages about skin cancer we hear daily.   Stay out of the sun before your surgery   You want your skin to be in good shape so that you can have the best chances for healing. Suntanned skin does not promote well-healed incisions.   Stay out of the sun after your surgery   Sun on your new incisions will turn them permanently red. This is not our opinion - it's a fact. Incisions need to stay out of the sun for about a year, and longer if they have not turned white. Once you sun them and turn them red, there is no going back. Only excising them and starting over will get rid of the red, sun damaged incision lines.   If you will be in the sun post-operatively (we realize we all have lives and vacations happen), please make sure your suit covers your incisions completely. Depending on how far post-op you are, you should ask your plastic surgeon if you can put sunscreen on your incisions. Sunscreens are chemicals, and it may not be a good idea to put this on your incisions if you are newly post-op, so ask your plastic surgeon. Of course, exposing them to sun would be worse, so do ask your plastic surgeon as he or she might also be able recommend the brand they'd like you to use. Some people have even put surgical adhesive tape over their incisions. This might be a good alternative to the chemical aspects of sunscreen - provided the tape stays on. Again, ask your plastic surgeon.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

In the Beginning

:help: Well, I'm gearing up for the fight of my life. I'm 36, will be 37 Jan 31st. for the past 15 years I've been over 200. The past 10 years I've been over 250 and the past 5 over 300. I think I need to get of this ride. I love food. I love to eat. I don't eat as much junk as one would assume a person of my size would eat, but what I do eat.. I eat a lot of. I consider myself a quantity eater... even if it's salad. I've been following this procedure for about 4 years now but my insurance at work excluded anything to do with weight loss specifically. Last year they added another company as an option. 7 other woman in the company went with the new one offered (BCBS of TN) and even thought the procedure is still excluded by the company, they went in, were denied once, fought it and won. I'm scared and nervous all at once. Of course going through my head is, what if they decide that they aren't going to accept any in '07? I am prepared to fight them tooth and nail this time. I went in for it 3 yrs ago, was denied and just cried for 3 weeks instead of fighting. In preperation for it, I have gone to a therapist and gotten a recommendation from them, I am requesting my maternal and paternal medical history, going to my doctor to get my past 5 year medical history and I've been food journaling for the 1st 9 months of 2006. My numbers are great when I have a physical ever year which means I'm going to have to fight extra hard. I have an appointment with my regular Dr. to start the process on Jan 3rd. She will have to refer me to the Lap Band Doctor I will be using. wish me luck Tracy:messenger3:
synicalchick

synicalchick

3
 

I survived & didn't even take my stuffed moose...

Ok. today @ 2:45 was my post op appointment and 1st fill. I walked in, & they weighed me. I was kind of dreading this because 1. It's that 'special' time of the month 2. I've been hungry 3. this weekend, though I still didn't eat volume wise what I normally do, ate things I shouldn't have, like bread and brownies 4. last but not least, I weigh about 4 lbs heavier in the afternoon than I do in the a.m. water retention I guess. Much to my delight I have maintained myself at 318.. I was 331.5 on the day of surgery, which means I weighed even more than that before surgery and lost some before because of the hellacious pre-op 'all food is evil so you must drink your meals' diet. So I lost around 20 lbs and have kept it off without gaining any before my fill. From what I've been reading on the forums, some people gain before their 1st fill so HOOfreakinRAH for me!:clap2: They had a "basket 'o Needles sitting on the desk.. boy that cheered me up and fast.:faint: Todd was like... well look honey.. they aren't THAT big... Dr. Morton thought my incisions sites looked great and where healing V well. They also thought my matching tie dyed undies/sports bra and socks were a hoot, I informed them that of course, I wore them for this ever so special of occasions. At this point, they had me laying down on the table in my colorful skivies and it occurred to me that this bragging on my homemade undies was a clever ploy for them to distract me from the bee sting of a numbing shot they administered to the incision on my sternum. I think Todd's fingers may still be tingling...:rolleyes but I have to admit.. it was like a baby bee sting and not one of those big A$$ scary bees.... So.. after this he sticks in the saline needle and all I feel is pressure, I was like.. wow, that's kind of weird, he then informed me that he was going to help me SIT UP with said needle protruding from my sternum. uh....:guess He gave me his hand and helped me sit up.. I didn't pass out or anything! In fact at this point, I didn't feel a thing but I guess my eyes were still bugged out like a fly in a frog pit cause he commented on my expression.. It was kind of weird to look down and see a needle sticking out of me but, it didn't hurt:) They then gave me a cup holding 9 ounces of water and asked me to sip on it. Apparently the band I have holds 4 thingies of saline (cc's maybe?) and while I sat there drank water and burped profusely he put in 2.2 thingies of fluid. He seemed pretty happy with how it was sounding and he pulled out the needle and slapped on a bandaid. I was like... 'THAT's IT?" As I predicted, I felt silly for being to worked up over this. It all took about 10 minutes from weigh in/strip down to fill up. I was grinning like a cat in the fish market on the way up front because my stomach had been growling like crazy when I got there and all the sudden.. I was FULL. HOLY CRAP>>>> I went from ravenous beast to pleasantly just ate full.... on 9 ounces of water. NICE. I scheduled my next appointment for 3 weeks from now to weigh in and see if I need more fluid in my band. I am on liquids until wednesday afternoon then I can switch to soft stuff like cottage cheese/apple sauce then gradually at my own pace, work up to real food again. I am ever so slightly sore now where my port is and he said I might bruise a little. I got a protein drink and some veggie juice for supper and right now I'm full as a tick.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

hmmm maybe I was better off waiting.

Well, I got my friggin insurance letter today from BCBS of TN saying that .. and I quote " Based on the information received and teh terms of your health benefit plan, we determined that the requested service is not medically necessary." Even though I had prepared myself for this.. it's still irritating. Let's review.."not medically neccessary" shall we. I'll be 37 tomorrow
I weigh 334
BMI 54
I walk down the hallway and I'm out of breath and exhausted
Family medical history.. diabetes both sides. HIGH LDL both sides. Father/grandfather quadruple bypass surgeries at 51 & 58. High blood pressure both sides, gall bladder problems, cancer & obesity.
chiropracter visits every two weeks for lower back pain
carpal tunnel aggravated by weight.
been over 200 for 15 years
been over 250 for 10 years
been over 300 for 5 years...Hmmm I see a pattern here folks. Gee.. I'm starting to see what they mean.. medically necessary.. PSHHH I'm healthy as a HORSE...and the size of one two... IDIOTS. Anywho. going to talk to my surgeon tomorrow about my options, see if they'll contact the lawyers that represent the lap band people and take it from there.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Great pre op

I went in for my pre-op testing yesterday (Ekg, blood work & x-rays) passed all of these with flying colors, again much to their surprise considering I now weigh 331. Then I got to sit down with the surgeon Dr. Morton and talk one on one and ask questions. I really like him. Very personable. He was impressed with my pre-op test results and wanted to know how old I was. He thought I was in my late 20's. He said that I am really fortunate to be my age and numbers wise be this healthy. He had a couple of band samples there and he demonstrated filling one up through the port. That was pretty cool. he's done over a 1,000 of them now. His stats are better than the us average. He has only had 12 bands slip, all of which he was able to fix. he hasn't had any erosions and he's only had four that leaked and zero deaths, blood clots or any other serious issues related to surgery. Todd has taken three days off next week so I'll be well taken care of. As soon as I'm able to walk and swallow a small sip of water without it coming up I'll be able to come home. It's considered outpatient. He said within 2-3 weeks my appetite will start to go back to normal, and that is when I go in to get my 1st 'fill' to restrict the opening in my stomach. he said sometimes it takes 2 or 3 fills to get the restriction just right. He thinks within 4 or 5 years that I will end up around 150 or 160. I was quite shocked. I have a hard time seeing myself below 200, but I guess that's because I haven't been below 200 in 16 years. He also said I would lose the fastest in the 1st year then it would taper off and how well I did was up to me and how I 'worked the band' and exercised. My surgery is next Tuesday Feb. 27 around 9 or 10 a.m. I'm kind of in the surreal part of this experience so far. I feel fortunate that my family and friends are so supportive. Thanks guys, Tracy
synicalchick

synicalchick

2
 

friggin' paperwork!!

My old doctor FINALLY found all of my past paperwork and faxed it in. I went there 3 weeks ago to sign a release form and finally go them yetserday. I'm going to call Dr. Morton on Monday or later this afternoon to see if they have everything now. My current dr is supposed to send in a 4 page form for BCBS and she is fixing to go on maternity leave so I'm hoping she got it done before she left.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

food for the day

between all these I had two puddings sugar free 60c each protein 2 each 6:30 a.m.1/4 cup of kifir probiotic yogurt 43 c protein 3.5 10:00 one serving of watery oatmeal 160c protein 4 2:00 one heat and sip creamy chicken 130c protein 4 4:00 one Delmonte Fruit chiller cup mango 190c protein 1 supper will be 1/2 cup white fish 100c protein 17g slice cheese 70c protein 4 total for day 813 c's with 37.5 g protein. NOT ENOUGH oops. might eat egg before bed.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

erg

I think today is going to be my worst day. What is it now.. technically my 2nd day post? surgery was Tuesday. ANywho.. I woke up feeling like a pack of wild drunk monkeys was partying in my abdomen all night. The part up by my ribcage/diaphram where the ports located is hard and swollen and all my other places I didn't feel before are starting to protest. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little better.. I'm having a few minor gas pains for the 1st time today too. It's v. uncomfy to breath deep at all and I lose my breath v. easily. Also, it is v. uncomfortable when my stomach starts growling It almost hurts... and I'm just on liquids right now so that's a lot. I shall prevail though.... sniff
synicalchick

synicalchick

2
 

EEEEEEP

Can't wait for April 2nd to get here for my 1st fill. I'm starting to GRAZE
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Day two of feeling normal...

Having another great day today... This week starts my working full days.. FINALLY. didn't quite make it last week. Been sipping on vanilla chai protein all a.m. and it's a little after noon and I was hungry so I'm eating my tuna and multigrain crackers. HOLY JEEZ. I'm not restricted really but big bites of tuna are a NO NO:kiss . I took two large/normal bites with a normal size fork (left kiddie spoons at home) and WHAM:faint: ... kind of very uncomfy. so... must stick with little bites. I have got to get myself trained before the 1st restriction, because as you can see from my previous post.. I REALLY don't care for pain. T
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Day three post op

Good a.m. Feeling slightly better today. This a.m. instead of flailing wildly for 10 minutes trying to get out of bed it only took me 9 minutes of flailing wildly. I'm starting to suspect some of my innards were stolen during surgery and sold on the black market. My furkids seem to think that the big a$$ pillow I keep on my tummy is JUST for their entertainment and like to take a running leap from the ground and land... RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE... which of course results in my jerking up and screaming bloody murder, spazzing the cats out which causes them to AGAIN run across said pillow that I'm using for 'protection'. hmmmm I may have just figured out the whole pack of wild drunk monkey feeling from yesterday..... My tummy is still swollen larger than a baboons a$$ in heat but not as pretty. I know it's only friday, but I'm like.. how on EARTH am I going to drive my truck to work on Monday. I may end up bartering with DHubby to take me. I can't wait to get to work to show off my new Cave man posture and walk. I also have this weird numb but itchy feeling on the surface of my tummy. Itching is a good sign I reckon but it's very surreal to be running my finger over the surface of my tummy and not really be able to feel it. I am VERY happy to report that my auntie flow has packed her bags and left the building. I asked Dr. Morton if he could just to ahead and remove my uterus while he was in there and he just looked at me like I was a goof ball. Oh well.. never no unless you ask. OK.. having major gas pain.. must go kick something. later T
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Day three after 1st fill

Walked about 45 minutes during my lunch break. I am on liquids until this evening when I can convert to mushies. When I came back in I drank some protein stuff by bolthouse farms.. probably about 9 ounces or so and now my freaking chest is tight again. This is going to take some getting used to and I have got to learn to start SMALL and work my way up. I'm not bad like yesterday but this is fairly uncomfortable which means... IT"S WORKING after only one fill. Of course he said the fill can cause slight swelling which is why liquids for two days so It may relax up some but.. this is how it works. I was just kind of surprised because I have read a lot of comments about the 1st fill not really working. Maybe it's the size of my band and the fac that it only holds 4 thingies and he put in 2.2. I actually think I will bust out of 300 by the end of the month!!!
synicalchick

synicalchick

3
 

Day five post op

Every day seems that I turn another corner for the best. I'm still itching like crazy, however, this a.m. I was able to, with the aid of several pillows.. lay on my side! HOORAH! it still slighly pulls on my port site which isn't v. comfy but it's a nice few minute change from laying on my back. It doesn't take much to wear me out. I go back to work tomorrow and kind of dread it, I have a desk job though so the worst part will be going from truck to desk. after that I should be fine. I'm eating a soft scrambled egg right now that DH made for me.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

dates

:laugh First Consult: 1/3, 2007       Viewed online 'seminar' 1/3       psych eval test 1/3       Appt to discuss Psych eval results 1/15       :clap2: Dr. Morton's office called to tell me they faxed my 300+ pages to BCBS       :faint: waiting.. waiting and well.. waiting some more:pout:       :high5: :peace: Insurance approval________?:dance: :laugh :banana       first meeting with internist at surgeons office ____?       Surgery date_______?:nervous
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Cha ching!

Well... $200 later:eek:   I just got back from Kroger. Loaded up on more EAS low carb high protein shakes, no sugar granny smith applesauce, kefir probiotic yogurt smoothies, sugar free jello's and puddings, v-8 juice and v-8 fruit splash, PRUNE YOGURT (whoever ever heard of such???) This awesome stuff in the produce section called Blue Goodness, chicken broth beef broth, soup, chewable rolaids+ gas, liquid ibuprophen, benedryll tabs, a copy of Spianal Tap..oh..wait.. that's a DVD.. like you care... sorry.. UH.. and more STUFF.  
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Aw man...

One of my co-workers up here hasn't been feeling to good for about three weeks now. Gave birth two months ago and her symptoms have been very gall bladder like. ANYwho, yesterday it was bad and by 3:30 she was on the floor expelling into her trash can. I'm so convinced it's gall bladder related that it didn't occur to me that it might be viral. Her mom just called and said her gall bladder is acting up, however, she also has a stomach virus.:sick CRAP. I'm supposed to have surgery on Tuesday. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't let me get this crap. ugh!:confused: What should I do? Is there any think preventative I can do?
synicalchick

synicalchick

2
 

armed with green stuff!

Today I came armed with slim fast to use in between meals and tons of Spring greens/lean ham/one slice provolone/ and other of my fav salad fixins... cranberries, flax seed, blueberries and some sunflower seeds. I will be chowing down for lunch.. I brought so much of the spring greens that I may even eat some for breakfast.. hard to beat a really good salad. I'm trying to get a handle on myself again, mentally something happened when I finally made the decision to get the procedure... I'll call it 'emergency eating'. OMG.. I may never get to eat this again.. OR this.. or this.. or this.. or that over there... And OMG I won't be able to eat this quantity ever again so I must eat the 12 oz steak.. not just 7 oz.. I mean.... So basically, this thinking has found me at 335. Now I must take control again and behave and eat good things like I KNOW I should. Food is my addiction and I've let it rage out of control. sigh.. baby steps.
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
 

Almost three weeks post op

I don't know what it is out Sundays but I am having another fabulous day. I am moving around BETTER than I was pre op. I topped out at 339 in January and am at 319 and holding. I don't expect to lose anymore until after my 1st fill. It's another GORGEOUS day out, got the sage burning, all the windows open and I am.. get this.. CLEANING! I'm also going to do a batch of tie dye this afternoon... feeling creative. It'll will take me about 3-4 days to finish this batch but it's nice to be in the biz again. Doing some shirts and undies for my in-laws that are going to Disney for their spring break. I made a big ole pitcher of Green Tea and I've got my ABBA gold album blasting. It's so nice to feel good and optimistic about my future. YAY! I still have the weird numb/pain on the surface of my tummy but it's tolerable. Todd(DH) is having outpatient surgery for his deviated septum one month to the day of my surgery and I know that by then I'll really be feeling great. I think I may even dye some eggs on Tuesday (Ostara holiday for me) I did this last year using all natural dye stuff. I boiled all kinds of stuff experimenting like spinich, coffee, tea, blackberries, strawberries and then I used cheese cloth and wrapped different plant leaves like carrot tops, rosemary and lavendar and they came out REALLY neat. I think my favs were the blackberry and tea ones. I have found that post op my meat preference to be fish. Well, I'm just rambling now. Later Tracy
synicalchick

synicalchick

1
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×