Ramblings of the obnoxious wonder - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Shetaz0028 · 07-10-2009, 07:13 AM

Now that I have all my ducks in a row I just realized I did not put my story out there. Warning you may need tissues, a bucket, and no eating or drinking when reading this.

Hi my name is Charlie. I have two beautiful daughters 18 and 20. The 18yo is going on the 30 and the 20yo is going on 5 it seem though. I am honored and proud to be the wife of a Marine (retired now). We were senior year high school sweethearts and were together when he walked into the recruiting office. I am truly blessed that my hubby is my best friend and the one that I turn to for anything. I get into a lot of trouble with the other wives because I do not have a leash on hubby. I could care less if he goes to the exotic clubs. I'm the one that reaps those benefits. I was even the one that suggested the car wash at Hooters to raise money for our "Welcome Home" for his unit after one of the Iraq tours.

I am the odd ball of my family. I come from good ole stock. German and Swedish on mom's side. Scott and Irish on the sperm donors side. All the women in both families are at the very least 5'6. Most of them are very thin but even the ones that are not are not fat. They are athletic. I look really strange in the family photo's because I only stand 5'. I think grandma stunted me with all the walking with a book on my head. Who knows.

I have always been conscience of my body and never thought it was what it should be. But, it went out of control with my first pregnancy. I was 19, moved from Az to a place called Goose Creek SC and hubby was never home. I got so depressed that I honestly did not realize what was happening to me. Hubby and I were having serious problems, I was across the country from my parents, I was pregnant, and stuck in a trailer all by myself. My first OB yelled at me because I had gained 5lbs by my 5th month. I was really hurt and changed doctors. My new doctor never said anything to me about weight and I ended up gaining 50lbs. 18 months later I was pregnant again, and packing hubby to go to Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

My oldest and I moved into my in-laws house while hubby was gone. My oldest is daddies little girl and she blamed me for making daddy leave. She turned 2 just before my youngest was born. The in-laws would not bring her to the hospital when I had the youngest so she was super pissed about that too. My youngest was a still born. She had meconium poisoning. The doctors and nurses fought tooth and nail and were able to revive her (of course if she's 18). I also had my doctors working their tails off because I flat lined when she was born. I lost weight with that pregnancy though.

Hubby came home when the youngest was almost 5 months old. We moved to Camp Pendleton in CA and things seemed to be going well until we moved into base housing. I was amazed that I could look out my front door and see the ocean (forget the San Onefre power plant). But, hubby met some friends that were not exactly family friendly. He left for work on more than one occasion and didn't come home until Sunday night. No call or anything and of course I was calling the police and hospitals. We actually separated and had the divorce papers on the table. Undiagnosed depression had be back down to my 92lbs. He realized that he wanted me so we got back together. Thinks were ok for the next 6 years.

We got stationed in 29 Palms via Okinawa and things took a drastic turn for hell. Two days after reporting into 29 Palms he got orders back to Iraq. Literally dumping me in the middle of the desert. Hi there depression I have missed you. My oldest daughter was in that really nasty "I hate you" teen stage and we were fighting like dogs over a bone. Hubby only called to yell at me and somehow I ended up putting on 60 lbs. I felt like my husband and my kids hated me and I so wanted to curl up into a ball and die.

Hubby came home and continued yelling and I just walked out one day. I was gone for 30 days and he realized just what he had in me. He realized that being a stay at home mom was a lot of work. Add in all the stuff I did for him, the unit, etc. and he fully understood why I was always so tired. I lost 45lbs during that month.

Hubby and I got back together again and have been going incredibly strong since. But, due to an accident and a love affair with Godiva I am here weight wise 211 lbs.

I have known about surgery for a long time and have many friends that have gone though it. I was not ready though. But, I am now. At the rate I am going I will not see my girls graduate college, get married, or play with grand kids. Hubby and I will not celebrate our 30th anniversary.

I started the ball rolling and attended the seminar in October '08. I proceeded to jump though all the hoops my insurance (Tricare Prime) required and my paperwork was finally submitted the end of January. My surgery dummy date was 2/12. I was denied on 2/11 with Tricare stating that I did not have any co-morbids. My sever sleep apnea results were not included with the paperwork. I appealed and sent the results of the sleep test. I was denied again because according to the Met Life tables I was not 100lbs over weight. I appealed again stating that the Met Life table for a small bone frame stated weight between 95-105 and at 211 I fully cleared that. Denied again but, they stated that if I could prove a small bone frame I would be approved. I had 60 days to find someone that could do an elbow measurement for me. I finally found someone on day 60 and Fed Ex'd the paperwork in. Denied again because I missed the cut off day.

I did not stop my fight though. I went back to my PCM and got a new referral in May. Scheduled a new intake with my surgical team. Sent in the paperwork and was finally approved on 7/6 at 8am and received my surgical date of 8/20 at 1pm on 7/6.

It can and will happen you just have to fight for yourself because no one else is going to.

Rebirth_103008 · 07-10-2009, 10:28 AM

Wow, I am amazed at your story and strength! God luck, or shall I say blessings to you!!

suebry05 · 07-10-2009, 10:40 AM

well you have been through alot~!! heres to a smooth surgery!! happy trails

Beth in Texas · 07-10-2009, 12:38 PM

Charlie, thanks so much for sharing!

I'm so glad that you fought the good fight, never giving up until you got what you deserved.

Congrats as well on getting that surgery date!

Shetaz0028 · 07-13-2009, 06:12 AM

I posted in another thread that my blood work came back a complete mess. I was afraid I would have to go on cholesterol drugs, vit D, and was pre diabetic. Well, the new blood work I had done last week was golden. I don't know my numbers as yet. I just got off the phone with my NP. She stated that the vit D test is still out but, everything looks ok. Yes, my cholesterol is in the higher range but it is not off the chart and does not need meds. She said that it will be taken care of with the surgery. My good cholesterol came up 50 pts too.

We'll see what next week holds. That’s gonna be a killer week for me.

7/21/09 8:45am Pre Admission
7/21/09 9:15am Pre Admission Testing with the RN
7/21/09 10:00am Pre Admission Testing with MD

7/22/09 Jury duty

7/24/09 8:45 Meeting with surgeon

But, at least it will help the time to go by faster.

Shetaz0028 · 07-17-2009, 06:54 AM

Hubbybubby and I sat down the other night and pulled one of our all night talk sessions. I just love those sessions. Anyway, I have come to the realization that my 3 denials were the best things that could have happened to me. Even though I had all the knowledge about what was going to happen, what I would have to do, and thought I knew the "battle of the food addiction" that would come I did not have the understanding of it all.

We discussed the fact that with the first 2 denials I ran right back to the food. I cried on his shoulder when he got home from work and he saw the chips and dip on the couch behind me. The third denial I behaved myself food wise and still kept up with the exercise. But, the visit of the in-laws had me breaking down and making really bad decisions. I gave into the stress and her bulling.

He is fully behind me now and is going to do what ever he has to help me succeed. He's going to try and eat like me (though I think the liquid diet will kill him). Not to mention the fact that he thinks gift holidays are going to be a cake walk from now on. Which they will be but, a girl only needs so much from VS or FH.

He also got a little evil twinkle in his eye. He informed me that most likely we are going to go camping on the rim with the in laws next summer. No one will have seen me since peanuts graduation and none of them know I am having the surgery. I'm gonna knock their socks off.

Shetaz0028 · 07-21-2009, 10:27 AM

So I just got back from all my pre-admit stuff. What a trip that was.

Normally the vampires stab and dig so much in my arms that I look like a junky when leaving and they always have to go for the back of my and or knees in the end. Well, this guy today poked me once in the arm and it was over. I'm not even bruised.

The doc. that I had to see what a total old school sweety. He walked in carrying a little black bag and the whole nine yards. 2 and a half hours later he was done. I could not believe he took that kind of time but, as he said "I'm signing you off for surgery and your not dying on my watch".

He did ask me why they had blood work done again today when I just had it done and I told him I have no idea. Of course he went into how bad my vit D was at 12. (Corrine I have the D3 on order and should have it today or tomorrow).

McTiki · 07-21-2009, 11:14 AM

Getting closer Taz.

tic toc tik toc...

Vikkator · 07-21-2009, 11:23 AM

Charlie, I loved your story and truly respect your strength and tenacity. I'm happy you finally got your approval and that you'll be on the losers bench with the rest of us soon. It seems like you've been around here a long time. Glad to hear it's starting to come together for you.

Shetaz0028 · 07-27-2009, 07:54 AM

Well some how I made it through last week. My meeting with the surgeon didn't go as well as I had thought it would. Even though I have not gained any weight since my last meeting with him he told me he wanted me to do the liquid diet and to go pick up the packs from the pharm. Wow but, ok. I called the pharm to get a pricing and GOOD GRIEF that stuff is more than hubbiebubbies car payment and the insurance on the bike. I'm waiting for the team to call me back coz I can not afford that right now.

I also received my D3 and more samples on Friday. I've been taking 2 caps per day and have noticed that I woke up with a WICKED head ache this morning. Not sure if it's tied in but, I have pretty much killed the migraine monster and really don't want him back.

I think all this is setting in and kind of freaking me out. When I sit down and look at the financial part of it I’m worried about not being able to afford the up keep. I mean with all the vits, protein, cloths, specialized foods, etc. that I will have to buy if I lose my job what am I going to do? I know what happens when people do not take their vits or keep the protein up and I don't want that happening but, if it's between rent or vits. The rent gets paid first.

I know I am worrying for no reason. That's just me. Prepare for the end of the world and hope for a bad hair day.