Deciding to Speak Openly
Hello Everyone:
My name is Kay and I'm getting banded in June. I joined this site yesterday and read all day. I began this process in 2004 when I was all scheduled to have a RNY Gastric Bypass and upon having the ultrasound, they found a mass near the area that the intestines would have to be rerouted. It turned out that instead of having my gastric bypass, I had a biopsy instead. I was so devastated. After that, there was not an option for me as the lap band was not covered by my insurance at that time.
In the interim, I put on more weight and finally relocated to North Carolina in the fall of 2007. In, 2008 I found that there was a young doctor in my town of Winston Salem, named Dr. "Fuzz" Fernandez, who had a very good reputation and success rate. I sent for the materials and was a little put off because he required a psychological evaluation that would cost almost $700 and that had to be paid out of pocket and not through insurance. As I had just spent so much money moving to this area, I was again was disappointed as I didn't have this money to spare at the time. So I put the materials away and said I would get to it later.
Later turned to almost 2 more years. In 2010, I had myself together again, was working and decided to go to the seminar which was required of everyone. I also found out that my insurance would now cover the lap band and I was excited, to say the least. It was similar to what I had learned in 2004 but there had been a lot of new developments with the lap band that I didn't know of at that time. They were getting good results with the band now. People were losing almost as much weight as with the gastric bypass.
I went along very fast getting my blood work done, the psychological exam, meeting with the nutritionist and dietitian. Completed everything that was required of me and thought I was ready. This was about March of 2010. Then I was told that my insurance, United Health Care, required a 6 months doctor supervised diet. Another blow I thought. Oh well, I had to do it. Now my doctor told me that I didn't really have to lose weight but just participate. So that is what I did. I didn't lose any weight!!!! When the nutritionist got my doctor's 6 months notes, they didn't look good. It looked like I wasn't even trying to be in compliance. She told me that my insurance would never approve me. I was so down I don't know what I was going to do. Six months wasted!
So, I went back to my doctor and said "hey look we have to do this again because I'm going to have this surgery." And we began again. So this time, I joined the YMCA and I purchased all low calorie foods for my dinners. I would eat cereal everyday for breakfast, have a piece of string cheese for a protein snack and the rest of my food was made up of fruits and vegetables. Surprisingly to me, I began losing weight. By the time the six months were up, I had lost 30 pounds. Everyone was happy, and you know I was smiling from ear-to-ear. So I called for an appointment with my surgeon.
When I met with him on May 19, 2011, he said "you've done everything, you're all set for a date. We just have to call the insurance company to get the approval and you will have your surgery in June if you want." I was like that's fine with me. So June it is. I hope to hear from his Coordinator this week with the exact date. Oh and I had lost another 11 pounds since March. Down 41 pounds now. Yea!!!!!
I can't believe that it is finally happening for me. I have had some support but people always say "oh you can do it yourself and I know someone who did this or that or the other."...and that can be discouraging at times to hear. Even yesterday someone tried to tell me about a Dr. Simeons diet using some type of drops... I wasn't trying to hear that.
I have wanted this surgery for 7 years now and I'm going to have it! I believe that obesity is a disease and that one way to treat this disease is with this surgery. So that is my choice. I have tried all the other diets as I'm sure anyone reading this has. We know about the merrygoround rides up and down with the weight. One false hope after another. I believe I can do this. It is a life changing event, it will be different, it won't be easy, but I can do it--I know I can and especially with God's help.
Anyway as for some beginning info, I currently weight 303 pounds and my goal is to weigh 180 as I am 5'6 inches tall and that weight looks very good on me. However, if I continue to lose that would be fine but I wouldn't want to be smaller than 150 pounds as I was skinny at that point in my life. I can't even imagine that. I currently wear a size 22 dress and between a 2X and 3X in tops and bottoms. My bottom is where I carry most of my weight so in dresses and skirts I can hide it fairly well, thus people saying I don't need this drastic a surgery. But the numbers are what is important not how i look in my clothes.
And beyond that as for health issues I have diabetes since last year and have had high blood pressure for years. I'm told that by losing weight I will be able to possibly come off the diabetes meds and that my pressure should not require 3 different pills, if any, to control. So getting my health back is a priority for me at this time too. And finally, I never wanted to die a fat person and be seen in a coffin as "fat". That may seem like an odd thing to say, but that is how I have felt getting older. And by the way, I'm 53 years young 
So this is the beginning of my new life. Blogging is different for me and I will upload some photos as time goes by and keep you updated as to my process and progress. Thanks for reading.
Kay
11 Comments
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now