snick1899

Thanks for all the congrats! It has finally hit me somewhere along the line today that I am really getting this done!! I am excited and nervous, and a little light headed when I let myself sit and think about it for a while! lol! I am going to have to say my goodbye's to french fries and bananas foster. :-( But it will be worth it in the long run!! I can't believe that I am finally going to be "me" again! I attached a "before" picture of me about 7 years ago, and a now picture. Soon I will be adding an "after" picture too! Wow, I can soon go dancing with the girls again and feel good on the dance floor! I will be able to fit into clothes from those stores where everything is 2 sizes smaller than the tag claims, like Forever 21! Wow...it doesn't feel like it can really be real! And hopefully...HOPEFULLY...I will lose my "chronic niceness" where I am nice to everyone about everything from fear of someone taking a cheapshot and cracking something about my weight (A breakthrough I had with myself lately...finally got to the root of this!). I can't wait to get my life back!!!

Before (And soon to be again!)

Now:

__________________
Jen (snick1899)

http://www.myspace.com/jencard00

"Some things I cannot change,
but till I try I'll never know!"
~ Elphaba (Wicked)

sherry7

Thanks Jen. Actually, none of my co-workers (except one) know about my upcoming surgery, and hopefully it stays that way. Some of the women I work with are a bunch of snotty, rude *itches, and I really don't want to hear their comments about it...because they probably wouldn't be nice.

The only people who I've told are hubby and teenage son (of course!), my mom and dad, and a work friend and a friend that I used to work with. I actually kind of regret telling those 2 friends, because it became the center of too many conversations until I said I really didn't want to talk about it. And now (hopefully it's my imagination) there seems to be a weird vibe. Oh well, what's done is done. The rest of my family (brothers) are out of state, but I will eventually tell them. I just got approval this week, so I didn't see any reason to do so before. As far as extended family that I haven't seen in years anyway, it's none of their business.

As far as getting excited though...I am super excited! I think my husband and son think I'm nuts. I really haven't talked to my dad about it, but I think my mom thinks I'm a little loopy too.

__________________
My surgery date is May 29!!!

BillH

Congrats, Sherry. I hope it's a real life changing experience for you! \Best Wishes!

__________________
GymRat #91
"Wow! I'm standing on the edge of tomorrow and the view is incredible!"

THE WILD RIDE HAS BEGUN.

check out www.firstcongdg.org
It's my life!

largest known wt: 379
surgical weight, 4/16/08: 298
current wt, 4/28/08: 285
goal weight for hip replacement: 200lbs
ultimate goal: 160lbs

BillH

Sorry Jen and
Sherry....I have the ballgame on tv, my earbuds in my ears so I don't have to listen to the inept ESPN baseball announcers, and I have the laptop in my lap....I recalled Sherry had already been approved, but of course, I wish Jen all the best too.

__________________
GymRat #91
"Wow! I'm standing on the edge of tomorrow and the view is incredible!"

THE WILD RIDE HAS BEGUN.

check out www.firstcongdg.org
It's my life!

largest known wt: 379
surgical weight, 4/16/08: 298
current wt, 4/28/08: 285
goal weight for hip replacement: 200lbs
ultimate goal: 160lbs

snick1899

I have been telling everybody! lol I work with all men, all fit, in shape men at that, so they don't understand what it is like ti live in this world as an overweight woman. They have been very supportive, though, all things considered. One of them used to be a personal trainer and is very "Exericse, eat right...that's all you need!" but for the most part they are all pretty excited for me, because I am so excited! lol. My friends have been very supportive, which I am finding out can be a rare thing. I don't have any firiends here in Florida, only some family, but even my friends from afar have been great. One of them is trying to take vacation time to be by my side during the whole thing! I am touch beyond words on that one! My dad, who I expected to be the last person on earth to support me, is behind me all the way, which helps so much! I think he saw me really try and try and fail and fail at taking the weight off, even saw me break my knee trying to get into shape, so he knows I did my best. I gotta stop now...getting all teary eyed! LOL I am so emotional since receiving my letter!!

__________________
Jen (snick1899)

http://www.myspace.com/jencard00

"Some things I cannot change,
but till I try I'll never know!"
~ Elphaba (Wicked)

snick1899

Thanks Bill! :-)
I see you are just a few weeks out...congrats! How is everything going for you?

__________________
Jen (snick1899)

http://www.myspace.com/jencard00

"Some things I cannot change,
but till I try I'll never know!"
~ Elphaba (Wicked)

snick1899

I was so excited to call the doctor's office today about my approval letter that I woke up at 5:00 AM and couldn't fall back asleep. So finally, 9:00 AM rolls around and I call and they say I have to talk to the girl who only comes in on Fridays! The last time I had to get ahold of this girl it took my 2 months! Now the whole thing feels hopeless again and all I feel like doing is crying. Then I try to ask the girl about only being approved for the open procedure and she says "They HAVE to do it that way in case he has to do the open surgery." I try to explain that I am ONLY approved for open, I am not approved to have the laparoscopic procedure and she says "Ok!" Ugh! I love my surgeon, but I HATE dealing with most of his office staff! So now I am back at square one, I am probably 3 months away from my surgery because this woman is impossible to get ahold of, they had my letter since the 29th and no one even bothered to call me...I feel so defeated.

__________________
Jen (snick1899)

http://www.myspace.com/jencard00

"Some things I cannot change,
but till I try I'll never know!"
~ Elphaba (Wicked)

snick1899

Ok, The good news...I am moving forward with my surgery again. They resubmitted it to the insurance company for the lap RNY instead of open. The girl thought my surgeon only did lap on the lapband, she didn't know he did it for RNY also. minor and fixable mistake. The bad news is, they won't schedule my surgery at the hospital until I get the final approval. If I don't get it by the 15th of this month I will have to wait until mid July to have it done. Granted, If my surgeon doesn't have any openings in early June I will have to wait until mid July regardless because we have people taking vacations at work from mid june to mid july. I am happy it is moving forward again. I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 21st for my final consultation with him. Here are some questions that I have, please add any important questions I have missed!

What is my pre op diet and how long am I on it?
What is my immediate post op diet?
How long should I expect to be in the hospital? (3 days, I think?)
How much time will I need to take off work? (I think he said 2 weeks)
How long should I avoid alcohol post op? (I am not a big drinker, but I do enjoy an occasional happy hour drink with my friends)
What supplements should I purchase before my surgery?
What other supplies should I stock up on pre op?
When can I start my supplements post op?
How long before I can drive post op?
How long until I can walk/care for my dog post op?
Post op, what types of headache/migraine medicine should I avoid/take? (I currently get mild migraines, nothing prescribed, but take motrine migraine for them)
When avoiding sugars/carbs post op, what is a good rule of thumb? How much sugar/carbs is ok? Processed sugars only? Should I avoid naturally sweet foods like fruit?
When is it ok to start exercising again?
How long, generally, until I can return to normal activity.
When can I begin walking in the water? (My friend and I go to clearwater beach and walk a couple of miles in the water, about shoulder high. Not sure if the salt water will be good or bad)
Can I take the stairs immediately after surgery, or should I plan to stay ground level for a couple of days?

Ok, I think that's all I have so far...please add on if you think of any more!

__________________
Jen (snick1899)

http://www.myspace.com/jencard00

"Some things I cannot change,
but till I try I'll never know!"
~ Elphaba (Wicked)

Grammy O

Yeah Jen, Sherry was talking about me. I am the one that wanted gastric bypass and was approved for lapband.

I am still waiting for an answer from the insurance company. My dr.'s office resubmitted my paperwork on Friday morning, so I'm hoping to hear something real soon.

Hang in there, it will happen.

__________________
*************
Blessings,

Olga

Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong.
Sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble.
Success keeps you glowing.

Good friends are like stars...
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.

snick1899

They resubmitted my request yesterday, or the day before. I am hoping it doesn't take as long to come back this time. Not that it was long the first time, about 1 1/2 weeks, I am just anxious. How long did it take for you to get your first approval? Good luck, I hope you hear soon!

__________________
Jen (snick1899)

http://www.myspace.com/jencard00

"Some things I cannot change,
but till I try I'll never know!"
~ Elphaba (Wicked)