As of today, I am a week and 3 days post op. I am finally starting to feel pretty good. I still have the gas in my shoulder that is causing me pain and I can feel my port and it is pretty tender. Other then that, I am feeling so much better.
I went to church today and 3 people commented on my weight loss. That made me feel so good! I didn't thing people would notice yet. I really like that they can tell a difference.
Cecil and I went for a short walk tonight and I was able to walk back up to my normal pace. It felt wonderful! The last several walks I have been on have been so slow and every step hurt. But today was different. It is amazing to me how much better I feel. I love it! Cecil also told me that the walk today was much easier for him. He is doing awesome with his weight loss too! He is down 20 lbs. since I started my pre op diet. He did a lot of that with me and he is continuing to work so hard at losing weight. He has goals for himself just like I do, and together, we are going to get skinny! :)
My goals this next week are:
*Get my water in everyday! (I have been failing miserably at this!)
*Walk my 2 1/2 miles Monday-Friday
*Get my 3 "meals" and 3 snacks in on time
I've been giving myself slack due to how rotten I have been feeling, but it is time to get back on track. I hope I feel just as good tomorrow as I have today, maybe even a little better. :)
I am so grateful for the wonderful support Cecil has been to me! Even though I have had such a rough time since surgery, he has been there with me, helping me and encouraging me. I couldn't have made it through all that without him. I have a wonderful husband!
Since I didn't do a weigh in post on Friday, like I had planned, I will put my current weight as of today.
Pre surgery diet: 299.6
Surgery Day 10/17/13- 280
Today 10/27/13 -266.6
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
It REALLY happened!
Ok, Ok, Ok, where do I even begin! I thought I had started a post, and I very well could have, but the last week is such a blur that I am not sure. I can't find a draft of one, so I will just start over.
I called Yolanda on Thursday, October 10 to see what I needed to do from that point. I was frustrated and angry, but I didn't want to give up. She said that the Dr. from my insurance and Dr. Buschman had a phone conference in 25 minutes to discuss why it got denied. YAY! That was a long 25 minutes. She said she would call me back and let me know what happened. So she did and she is the one that ended up talking to them and IT GOT APPROVED!!!! Yolanda asked me to be there on Friday morning to have a check up with Dr. B and then I needed to get an EKG and my labs done. Then I needed to go over to the surgical center and get pre registered.
Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa left on Thursday to come down here to visit us. They didn't end up getting here on Thursday night, but I had to keep my appt. on Friday so I headed to Lubbock. I got everything I needed to do done and got home about an hour and a half after everyone got here. At the dr. I told them that I wanted surgery on Wednesday, but that wasn't a for sure thing. On Monday they called me and told me that we would have to have it on Thursday. That was just fine.
I did as good as I could with having company. I didn't want to gain anything at all. I did protein shakes in the day but then I usually ate supper. I did really good. Then 2 days before surgery, I really tried to not eat any solids at all. Wednesday I found out that I had to be at the surgery center at 10:00 Thursday morning. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight and I had to get my Lovenox shot and give it to myself. I forgot about that! But it worked out just fine. I really wanted to get several suppers made and put in the fridge, but by the time I got everything else done, it didn't happen. I bought easy stuff and had meals planned so it worked out just fine. Wednesday night was so busy. Amber, Eli and Owen had primary. I cancelled YW. I wanted to have everyone get bathed and I wanted Cecil to give me a blessing. He did and it was very comforting. I didn't tell the kids I was having surgery, I just told them that I was going to the dr. and I would be really sleepy when they got home. I also didn't tell anyone in the Branch except Tanya and her husband and Trish. I was glad that I had told everyone that it was denied because now I don't have to talk to anyone about it. Maybe someday I will tell everyone, but right now, I am not ready for that.
I really had no idea what my recovery was going to be like. I didn't know what to expect. I thought a few days and then I would be up and going just fine. Not the case, but we will get to that in a bit. Mom and dad decided to stay and help out through surgery day. I was SO glad and SO grateful!
I was able to get up, get the kids off to school, Isabelle went to Tanya's (and then came home after preschool) and Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa just hung out at home all day. Cecil and I stopped off at Wal Mart to get some gas x strips. I was told they would really help after surgery. Then we were off to Lubbock. We got there about 15 minutes early and they got us right back to the pre op area. They got an IV started and then we ended up having to wait a long time because the anesthesiologist had something else he needed to respond to. By the time he got back, I think it was around 1:00. I'm not positive about that because this is where things get a little foggy. I remember the nurse coming in and telling me that she was going to give me a little something to make me feel funny. I told Cecil good bye and watched him walk out of my room. The nurse wheeled me out and around a corner. I remember thinking that she was good at maneuvering that big bed. lol Then she took me into the OR and she told me I needed to scoot my body over to this other bed. That's about as much as I remember. It was hard to move, but I don't remember getting settled on that other bed. The next thing I knew I was asking for my husband. I just remember asking for him over and over. I remember everyone telling me to breath and I remember wanting to get up and move cause I wanted to go home. The first thing Cecil told me was that they had to do a hernia repair as well before they could put the band on. I started to move and it hurt. And I felt like I was going to vomit. And then I vomited. And vomited. And vomited. Then I got to drink that really gross stuff so they could take an x-ray and they said everything looked great. I got back into bed...and vomited again. Ugh! It was a little rough. But I really wanted to go home. They had to make sure I could use the bathroom so I did that and got all situated and off to home we went. I don't remember a lot from the ride. I just know I hurt really bad. The gas in my body was killing me. I wanted pain medicine so Cecil went to get it and the pharmacy was closed. It was a very long night! I didn't sleep much at all. I was out on the couch trying to ease the pain as much as I could. Then first thing Friday morning, Cecil went and got the medicine. It helped a lot! Mom and dad decided to leave that morning since Cecil took the day off to be with me. I just rested a lot and tried to drink as much as I could. This last week has just been trying to get better. I have been in so much more pain then I thought I would. It isn't a lot of pain from the incisions, it is pain from the gas. It is in my left shoulder so bad and under my diaphragm so it hurts to breath and move. Sleeping has been a bit of an issue as well. But I really think I am on the mend.
I got my staples out yesterday and I was glad to see them go. :) It just means I am healing more now. I can have full color liquids and that has been nice as well. It is just going to take time. I am ready for this change. I am ready for the scale to keep going down! It is so exciting for me to lose this weight. Cecil is also doing awesome! He is down 38 lbs and he is looking so good! He is supporting me 100% in my weight loss journey and I am so grateful for that! It is so much easier to be dedicated when you are not the only one trying.
So below is my surgery day weight and pre surgery photos. (all taken the day of surgery)
I think I took this Friday, Oct. 18. (The day after surgery) I have a fifth incision, but I couldn't get it in the picture.
I called Yolanda on Thursday, October 10 to see what I needed to do from that point. I was frustrated and angry, but I didn't want to give up. She said that the Dr. from my insurance and Dr. Buschman had a phone conference in 25 minutes to discuss why it got denied. YAY! That was a long 25 minutes. She said she would call me back and let me know what happened. So she did and she is the one that ended up talking to them and IT GOT APPROVED!!!! Yolanda asked me to be there on Friday morning to have a check up with Dr. B and then I needed to get an EKG and my labs done. Then I needed to go over to the surgical center and get pre registered.
Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa left on Thursday to come down here to visit us. They didn't end up getting here on Thursday night, but I had to keep my appt. on Friday so I headed to Lubbock. I got everything I needed to do done and got home about an hour and a half after everyone got here. At the dr. I told them that I wanted surgery on Wednesday, but that wasn't a for sure thing. On Monday they called me and told me that we would have to have it on Thursday. That was just fine.
I did as good as I could with having company. I didn't want to gain anything at all. I did protein shakes in the day but then I usually ate supper. I did really good. Then 2 days before surgery, I really tried to not eat any solids at all. Wednesday I found out that I had to be at the surgery center at 10:00 Thursday morning. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight and I had to get my Lovenox shot and give it to myself. I forgot about that! But it worked out just fine. I really wanted to get several suppers made and put in the fridge, but by the time I got everything else done, it didn't happen. I bought easy stuff and had meals planned so it worked out just fine. Wednesday night was so busy. Amber, Eli and Owen had primary. I cancelled YW. I wanted to have everyone get bathed and I wanted Cecil to give me a blessing. He did and it was very comforting. I didn't tell the kids I was having surgery, I just told them that I was going to the dr. and I would be really sleepy when they got home. I also didn't tell anyone in the Branch except Tanya and her husband and Trish. I was glad that I had told everyone that it was denied because now I don't have to talk to anyone about it. Maybe someday I will tell everyone, but right now, I am not ready for that.
I really had no idea what my recovery was going to be like. I didn't know what to expect. I thought a few days and then I would be up and going just fine. Not the case, but we will get to that in a bit. Mom and dad decided to stay and help out through surgery day. I was SO glad and SO grateful!
I was able to get up, get the kids off to school, Isabelle went to Tanya's (and then came home after preschool) and Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa just hung out at home all day. Cecil and I stopped off at Wal Mart to get some gas x strips. I was told they would really help after surgery. Then we were off to Lubbock. We got there about 15 minutes early and they got us right back to the pre op area. They got an IV started and then we ended up having to wait a long time because the anesthesiologist had something else he needed to respond to. By the time he got back, I think it was around 1:00. I'm not positive about that because this is where things get a little foggy. I remember the nurse coming in and telling me that she was going to give me a little something to make me feel funny. I told Cecil good bye and watched him walk out of my room. The nurse wheeled me out and around a corner. I remember thinking that she was good at maneuvering that big bed. lol Then she took me into the OR and she told me I needed to scoot my body over to this other bed. That's about as much as I remember. It was hard to move, but I don't remember getting settled on that other bed. The next thing I knew I was asking for my husband. I just remember asking for him over and over. I remember everyone telling me to breath and I remember wanting to get up and move cause I wanted to go home. The first thing Cecil told me was that they had to do a hernia repair as well before they could put the band on. I started to move and it hurt. And I felt like I was going to vomit. And then I vomited. And vomited. And vomited. Then I got to drink that really gross stuff so they could take an x-ray and they said everything looked great. I got back into bed...and vomited again. Ugh! It was a little rough. But I really wanted to go home. They had to make sure I could use the bathroom so I did that and got all situated and off to home we went. I don't remember a lot from the ride. I just know I hurt really bad. The gas in my body was killing me. I wanted pain medicine so Cecil went to get it and the pharmacy was closed. It was a very long night! I didn't sleep much at all. I was out on the couch trying to ease the pain as much as I could. Then first thing Friday morning, Cecil went and got the medicine. It helped a lot! Mom and dad decided to leave that morning since Cecil took the day off to be with me. I just rested a lot and tried to drink as much as I could. This last week has just been trying to get better. I have been in so much more pain then I thought I would. It isn't a lot of pain from the incisions, it is pain from the gas. It is in my left shoulder so bad and under my diaphragm so it hurts to breath and move. Sleeping has been a bit of an issue as well. But I really think I am on the mend.
I got my staples out yesterday and I was glad to see them go. :) It just means I am healing more now. I can have full color liquids and that has been nice as well. It is just going to take time. I am ready for this change. I am ready for the scale to keep going down! It is so exciting for me to lose this weight. Cecil is also doing awesome! He is down 38 lbs and he is looking so good! He is supporting me 100% in my weight loss journey and I am so grateful for that! It is so much easier to be dedicated when you are not the only one trying.
So below is my surgery day weight and pre surgery photos. (all taken the day of surgery)
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The waiting game is over....
Ok, so yesterday I got a phone call from my Lapland coordinator. She said that the hold up on everything was that the insurance said they never received my physc evaluation. So she re faxed it to them and the nurse called her back to say that she approved everything, she just needed to send it off to the dr and they would have an answer for me in the morning. Well first thing this morning they called and it has been denied! I am crushed. I can't even explain how crushed I am! I have been doing everything they want me to do for the past 4 months! I have jumped through all their hoops and played their game only for them to deny me?? My BMI is 47! That in itself should qualify me! Ahhhh, maybe I should continue this post later. I am so upset I can't even type. I just don't understand.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Still Waiting...
And it's ok. I am officially down 17 lbs. as of today. I am totally ok with that. Cecil and I have been doing protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a low carb supper. Last night we just bought a rotisserie chicken and the night before we did taco salad without any chips. Both nights were filling and satisfying and I was happy with that. Tonight I am going to make chicken fajita salad. Yum! :) Cecil is losing a lot better than I am. He is down 30 lbs. from when we got married. (16 lbs. since we started the shake diet.) I still am not down to what I was when we got married, but I am down 17 lbs. from 2 1/2 weeks ago. I am not disappointed. It will come off. It didn't take 2 1/2 weeks to gain this 100+ lbs. I'm not going to lose it in 2 1/2 weeks. At least I am not gaining. When I get discouraged with the lack of info from the insurance company, I remind myself that if I hadn't started the liquid diet, I would have continued to gain. I would have gotten over 300 lbs. So I am not upset that I started it when I did. I just really wish I would hear something. The kids are not asking questions. They just think that we are on a diet. I am glad. I really don't want them to know. I am being very selective with who I do tell. People at church have found out and it is hard to have them not say anything in front of the kids. I am sure they will eventually find out, I just don't want them to right now. My side of the family knows, but Cecil's doesn't. Like I said, in time, I am sure everyone will know, but right now I am not ready for them all to know.
As far as the weekend goes, it is General Conference. My favorite! We do need to go grocery shopping but for the most part, I want to stay home and relax. It seems like life has been in full force for a few months and it would really be nice to have some relaxation. I think everyone would enjoy it.
Let's get this weekend started! :) Happy Friday!
As far as the weekend goes, it is General Conference. My favorite! We do need to go grocery shopping but for the most part, I want to stay home and relax. It seems like life has been in full force for a few months and it would really be nice to have some relaxation. I think everyone would enjoy it.
Let's get this weekend started! :) Happy Friday!
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The waiting game
Ok, so nothing from the insurance yet! It's been 2 weeks since I started the protein shakes, and, yes, I have cheated. A lot. I am still at a 15 lb weight loss, so I am not mad, I am just frustrated. I really don't think that surgery will even happen this week. I was told today that they have until the 15th and they just might take that long to make a decision. How frustrating! In the mean time, I think I will just not eat sugar, just meat, cheese, that kind of stuff, and keep on waiting. I would love to keep loosing and I certainly don't want to gain anything back. I just want the surgery. I am ready. So I will hurry up and wait. That's what insurance companies like you to do. Wait, wait, wait.
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