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
    5
  • comments
    4
  • views
    3,315

About this blog

And so it begins...

Entries in this blog

 

Step One - Quit Smoking

I quit smoking today. It's hard, but I'm dealing with it. Last cigarette was around 11:30 PM last night. Barely slept a wink because of the nicotine withdrawal I guess. Either that, or the patch kept me up. At least I have the patch to help with the waves of cravings that I get.   I just have to keep my mind on the prize. A newer, healthier me. Someone that my little daughter can look up to, in so many different ways. Hopefully, since she's not quite two yet, she will never remember that her mother was once a smoker. Today is the first time that I have quit, that I am actually excited about it. I've quit before, then started, over and over (kind of like my dieting). But today I feel like my reasons for doing it are so much more important than they ever were. To be skinny again....that's a gift I can't make little of, so I will quit smoking for it. And of course, my dear daughter. I have to do this for her as well.   Wish me luck!!
Melissal

Melissal

2
 

First Seminar Last Night

I attended my first WLS seminar last evening at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. Dr. Harrison was the surgeon who did the presentation. I have to say that I didn't really get any "new" information from the seminar. I think I've done so much research on all of the surgery choices, that I was not surprised with any thing that was said. Of course, that's a good thing. It reinforces everything that I've read so far, and only makes me more confident in my choice to do this. Oh, and I did learn about the hospital's program for the dietician, nutrition, etc that I would need to go through to have the surgery.   I thought Dr Harrison was very professional. Seems like a nice guy. Has a sense of humor that occassionally shines through, but mostly he's no nonsense. At least that was my first impression of him. All good.   I go to my second WLS seminar next week at another hospital - Hazleton General Hospital in Hazleton, PA. The surgeon there will be Dr. Bono. I'm interested in seeing how that one goes. I'd like to see if they have a program like Lehigh Valley for the dietician, etc. It would be nice to get it all in one spot if possible.   I have heard not so great things about Hazleton's General Hospital, and wonderful things about Lehigh Valley Hospital, BUT, I've heard good things about Dr. Harrison, and WONDERFUL things about Dr Bono, so I'm not sure yet which way I will go. Should I base my decision on the hospital itself, or on the surgeon?? I just don't know yet. I'll just have to go to the second seminar and then see what king of impression I get from them and continue to do my homework.
Melissal

Melissal

2
 

And so it begins...

Ok. So I am really starting to think that I'm actually going to get the sleeve gastrectomy so I thought I would start my blog early. This will be a reminder to me after I lose the weight of why I never want to gain it back again.   I hate my self image. I have a daughter that is turning two in a couple of months, and I have only a handful of pictures with her because I can't stand the way that I look. I am embarassed to go anywhere in public. I have barely any friends left because I'm too ashamed of how I look to see them again. I never shop for clothes because I can't stand the clothes that come in my size, so I wear sweats and anything baggy that I can find. My blood pressure is high. My knees hurt all the time. My back hurts all the time. I get winded doing almost anything. I can't keep up with my daughter. I'd love to play with her more often and be able to run after her. I snore terribly and I think I have sleep apnea.   I'm sure I can think of a million more reasons why I want this, but for right now, I'll move on.   I'm 34 years old, married, mother of one. I was skinny my whole life until I turned 28, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and medicated for it. Since I started the medications, the weight started to pile on. Year after year I grew bigger and bigger. Dieting, exercising, etc. did nothing for me, or if it did, it wouldn't last and I gained the weight back and more. Common story, I know. I am ashamed to say it, but I am 5'7" and weigh about 236 lbs, which is a BMI of about 37.   For the last few weeks, I've been doing a ton of research, reading forums, etc. on WLS. I initially thought that the lap band was the surgery I wanted, but now I'm sold on the sleeve. I spoke with my PCP about the idea of getting it done and he's all for it. The only problem, and it's a huge problem, is that I currently have no insurance. My husband should be getting insurance through his work, but not until June. Ugh. So I've decided that until June comes, I'm going to try to prepare myself as much as possible, and hopefully once he gets insurance, maybe they will approve the surgery and things will hopefully go quickly.   I am going to my first seminar next Tuesday night. I can't wait. I'm really feeling like a sponge now and trying to soak up all the information I can about this. That's going to be at one hospital, that is well known and established as a great hospital. Then there's another seminar, on March 1st, for another not so well-known hospital that's closer to me. I figured I would meet both surgeons, etc and decide from there which way I would go. Of course, I guess my insurance company will have some say as well.   I guess I did enough jibber-jabbering for now. Will write again soon.
Melissal

Melissal

0
 

Insurance

I am way too obsessed with getting this surgery.   I won't even have insurance coverage of any kind until June 1st, but today, I made my husband get the group number from his employer so that I could contact the insurance company that he will have to ask them if this procedure is covered or not. I'm not exactly the patient type. LOL   But stupid me, instead of calling, I sent an "online information request form" and I'm waiting for a response. If I don't get one by tomorrow afternoon I guess I'll just call.   In the meantime, I can't stop reading forums on the subject, and looking at YouTube before and after videos, etc. I just can't even imagine how happy I would be to be thin again!!   Keeping my fingers crossed that insurance will help cover the charges~
Melissal

Melissal

0
 

Yes! One step closer!!

I finally called Aetna today. My husband won't be getting their insurance until June, but I gave his group number that he will have, and as of now, they said that they do have coverage for bariatric surgery, with a $500 copay. Woo Hoo! I am so excited. I feel like this is actually going to fall into place for me and I just can't wait until we're covered so I can see if I get approved!!   I wonder if I can start doing the 3 month approval process now, before we are covered, to make things go faster once we do get the coverage.   Anyway, good news for now. First seminar is coming up this Tuesday. Can't wait to go!!
Melissal

Melissal

0
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!

×