6 Months Post Surgery Update

I can't believe it has already been six months since my Gastric Sleeve surgery! So much has happened since I have last written, so this may be a long post.

Lets first discuss how I was able to cross several things off my bucket list! 

#46. Be a 911 dispatcher

I discussed in previous posts how this ended up working out. While this did not end up working out, I still learned a great deal by my experiences with the agency I worked for at the time and also the Kentucky State Police who graciously allowed me to observe with them for almost 6 months. Even if I wasn't good at that job and didn't receive great training, I still use the things I learned at that job and during my observation time with KSP in my current position as Deputy Jailer. 

 #17. Go to Hawaii!
I am so blessed with good family and friends who all helped in making this trip possible. My cousin especially, who paid for most of the trip, and my mother, aunt and uncle for giving me money for my birthday. We did so many amazing things on the trip! Swam with Dolphins at Sea Life park (#24 on the bucket list) and an additional bonus of swimming with wild Sea Turtles! It was so breathtaking, I can't tell you how many times I had a happy cry! So while most people were dreading age 30, I was living it up! I really think my 30's are going to be my best decade.

#47. Be a police Officer

This one is half accomplished. While I am technically a sworn officer as  Deputy Jailer, I do not receive the same training as street officers. Moreover, the scope of my duties mostly lies within the confines of the jail-unless I were to ever qualify for a transport, or be deputized by another agency. If I am completely honest, my dream job would be that of  Kentucky State Trooper. This is something that has helped drive me to do better. I still struggle daily, but I will discuss that momentarily.

#6 Begin a weight training program

I wouldn't say that I have exactly begun a weight training program, but I have begun an exercise program and I feel great! I have been going to the Bowling Green Athletic Club and mostly taking a class called "Barre Basics" taught by Karyn Rafferty. This class works your muscle groups based on ballet techniques and also some Yoga and Pilates. I get better at it every time I go. I have also been following the Facebook of Personal Trainer Tammy York, who gives amazing tips on diet and exercise, as well as positive encouragement every single day.  I also follow the You Tube channel Fight Tips. Fight Tips not only gives you self defense suggestions, but also tips on how to improve your health and push yourself physically. Last, but not least, I have received much needed workout instructions and fitness advice from a new friend Aschon Karbasi, who provided me with this nice Circuit Training starting workout.

It may be only 16 Minutes, but if you do it correctly and push yourself to involve your whole body it will burn up those calories! I sweated more in 16 minutes doing the Circuit Training than any of my other classes or workouts I have tried. I think it is easier for me to put more effort into the 16 minute workout because your brain says, 'Oh it's only 16 minutes." Two days after my first go at the Circuit Training and I was feeling pain in muscles I didn't even know I had.

 _______________________________________________________________________________ 

Lets take a break from my bucket list, and discuss some of my struggles. My confession today is that I have COMPLETELY blown my diet. I eat what I want without regard to the nutritional value, and it has been ongoing for the last month and a half at least. While I am still losing weight, this has to stop. I can recognize myself getting into the same patterns of behavior that I had before my surgery. I like too many sweets, too many carbs, too much junk food, too much sweet tea. Sweet sweet sweet. After being so sick of sweet stuff on my liquid diet, it seems to be all that I crave right now. I know these cravings are all coming from my food choices; too much fast food and too much sweet tea! Sweet tea is like my crack. My crack used to be Mt. Dew, but as I have promised myself never to drink carbonated drinks again, sweet tea was my natural go to drink. I have drunk very little plain water this month and my body feels the loss of it. 

So what am I going to do about it? 

I'm going to reset and start again. The one thing I am grateful for about all the diet tips and workout advice from the above mentioned people is that they offer encouragement. They don't berate you for falling, they encourage you to get back up. The words "Get up, start again, you can do this, try this instead" these are of great help to me. I also like the fact that all of the above mentioned people are not afraid to show others that they struggle. They teach us through their struggle and I really admire and try to emulate that. "No one is perfect" is a statement often made; while it is one thing to hear that, it is another to understand it. 

The struggle of weight loss will never go away for me or anyone else who is on this journey, but I think it helps to know we aren't alone. When I had this surgery, I never though it was going to be easy. All the time I spent researching the surgery, and all the time I spent reading about others' experiences, I knew I would struggle. Perhaps I am not struggling to lose weight thanks to the surgery, but I am struggling to have a healthy life and to reach my goals and dreams. That will never end, but losing the weight has really helped me to be on the path that I want my life to take!

Drumroll please!

Now it is time for my progress! I am so excited to say that where I started in a size 22, almost a size 24  womens, I am now a size 16 and steadily edging closer to size 14. Where my highest weight right before surgery was 270 lbs, my current weight is.......

199.5 Lbs

On the left is the day I came home from surgery at about 265 lbs. On the right is me on 10/27/14 at 199.5 lbs!

After learning how much weight I lost, I of course bawled and squalled. My doctor, Teresa Stidham, ARNP said that I had lost 22.5 lbs since I had seen her 3 months ago. SO HAPPY!!!!!

3 months Post Surgery Update

I am so happy with my progress this month! I went to my 3 month follow up visit and I am now at 220 lbs! Which means that I have lost a total of 45 lbs since having my surgery! I will be honest and say that I did not reach the goal my doctor set for me, but I am still so happy.

Yesterday when I realized how much weight I have actually lost, it finally dawned on me that this surgery has really worked for me. Also, no matter how much pain I was in after the surgery; no matter how much I stressed out over the entire pre-approval process- it was so worth it. Even if I only lost 45 lbs it is worth it to me.

I won't deny that I have been quite fatigued due to a number of reasons: low protein intake, history of Vitamin D deficiency,  possibly low on Vitamin B12, and also I have been working at my new job on floating shifts. All of these have contributed to my tiredness.

However,  I also feel REALLY great! My bones don't feel  like so much pressure is on them. I am starting to fit into clothes I haven't been able to wear in 2 or 3 years. I feel so blessed to have been able to have this surgery.  In the past my weight loss has felt like the punishment of the Greek legend, Sisyphus; who's punishment was to roll the rock up the hill and when it reached the top the rock would always roll back to the bottom and the cycle was repeated into infinity. I no longer feel like that, for the first time in my life I feel like I can reach my healthy weight!

Weight and food will no doubt always be a struggle for me, but I have learned that I can occasionally enjoy eating out or eating regular food. That's not to say that I go crazy, but my occasional cheating has helped me to reduce stress. By not constantly obsessing over my diet, I can still enjoy normal life. On a normal basis though, I do still try to maintain the instructions of my doctor which is less than 30 grams of carbs per day and at least 60 grams of protein per day.

Speaking of protein, that is something I still struggle with. Although I do eat some kind of  protein every meal, chicken, fish, or beef, I am still far short of my needs. I will have to start drinking protein drinks again. My hair is falling out by the handful. Luckily I have really thick hair so I am about the only person who notices. I thankfully don't have any bald spots. But my doctor ordered a very detailed vitamin panel on me and I had blood work done yesterday.

So to end this, I still have a ways to go on my weight loss journey, but my goal is within reach! I am so excited!  Below are this months pictures and my Tanita scan results for yesterday!

On the left is the day I came home from surgery, on the right is yesterday at my follow up visit!

2 Months Post Surgery Update

Today will be a short blog. This month has been a bit of a roller coaster. 2 weeks ago my cousin moved down with me and we have been getting him settled in. We have been having a great time because we both play video games and have similar interests. However this week turned south when one of my aunts died unexpectedly.  She will be missed greatly.

On a more positive note, the day of her death I found out that I have gone down to 236 lbs. Which means that from my starting weight of 270 lbs, I have lost 34 pounds! I am very happy about this. I have been eating things that are bad for me though, so I need to cut that out if I am going to lose more weight.

Here is a picture of my progress. On the left is the day I came home from surgery,  on the right is from today.  I don't think I look that different,  but everyone else says otherwise.

One Month Post Op

Well I have been to my one month follow up with my surgeon. Officially I have lost 24 pounds! Not bad for my first month, my doctor was pleased. As was I!

The above picture is my body composition print out from the Tanita scale at my doctors office.

My doctor said that he would like to see me again in two months, and be 42 pounds lighter. Which would put me at 199 pounds! If I can get to my goal, I think it will be the lightest I have been since high school. 

To do this though, I am going to have to start exercising.  Which I of course think is extremely boring. I just wish I could afford cross fit or Kung Fu lessons right now. I like those sorts of things that aren't routine; which would mean I would actually have to pay attention. But these things will come in time. I am still working on finding another full time job. Until then I have to force myself to go walking at the park.

As for food, I have been eating fish, chicken, and eggs for protein.  I can't bear the thought of a protein drink right now. But my doctor said he actually does not want me relying too much on those anyway. He said he would prefer me to eat normal food, which I am all about! Other than that I have been eating a lot of salad and cheese. The salads are quickly becoming old, but I could eat cheese for every meal for the rest of my life.....as long as it is good cheese. 

Still trying to stay under 30 carbs per day, but my surgeon told me that now I only need about 60 grams of protein for my height. So that's a little bit of a load taken off.

Also my hair has been falling out in droves, thankfully no bald spots. My doctor said that was due to not getting enough protein, but I discussed the possibility of my Vitamin D being low. I think we are both right.

I always know when my Vitamin D is low, as I was already diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency before my surgery. My hair always starts falling out, then I get into a "poor pitiful me" state, and I cry at the drop of a pin. Lord, this weekend I accidentally got burned, and it wasn't even really a bad burn. Well for some reason not only was I more sensitive to the burn, but I started crying. But then of course I realized my Vitamin D was low and I was being stupid. The embarrassment had already taken place though.  I have taken more of my vitamin supplements now, and also Calcium to help me better absorb the Vitamin D. I feel much more like my happy self. 

I don't have pictures this time, because I haven't really lost any more weight since my last post. I will make sure get some next time I weigh in.

Four Weeks Out

Where do I begin? I suppose first I will tell you that I feel great! I had a rough couple of weeks on the liquid diet. I also had problems understanding when I was full. So I will use this blog to tell you what I have been eating as well as my unofficial progress!

When I came home from the hospital I was still on "clear" liquids. This wasn't a strict clear liquid like before surgery. As long as the liquid was water based or juice based,  without any chunks of stuff in it I could eat it. To that end, I mostly stuck with my protein powder and protein shots. The protein shots I had to mix because A. They did not taste great.  And B. The whole shot contains 42g of protein and you can only absorb 30g at a time. So why waste 12g of protein? About halfway through the clear liquids phase I was already sick of it.

What saved me was a little concoction I made by mixing in a blender a popsicle and half of my protein shot. I then ate it with a spoon very slowly, and it helped me to feel more satisfied.

Also, miso soup, which is a Japanese soup made from soy beans, saved me. Every bit of the protein powder I had was sweet. Chocolate,  vanilla, and Fruit Punch. Miso soup kept me from going crazy. Here is the brand I bought, and it tastes exactly like the miso soup at my favorite Japanese restaurant. Just leave out the seaweed packet if you are still on clear liquids.

    

Other things that I used were the broth packets from ramen noodles, beef bullion,  chicken bullion. Just be careful with the salty foods as they are really high in sodium.

In week 2, I was able to add full liquids. I started mixing my chocolate protein powder with 2% milk. Really you are supposed to use skim milk, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be even more miserable than I am. I also got some premade cream soups. Although I dislike regular tomato soup, I absolutely adored the Pacific brand, Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup. I tried another brand but it wasn't nearly as tasty as the Pacific brand. I did not try the low sodium version either.






By week 3, I was starting to feel nauseated all day, admittedly because I was not eating enough protein. However, the though of even touching those protein powders made me want to vomit. I was so sick of eating sweet stuff. Although I did make a chocolate and peanut butter smoothie, because I could finally eat peanut butter.

On mother's day weekend (1 week ago) I went to visit my mom. Oh the saint that she is, she decided to make me two soups that would help me. The first one was a broccoli soup. The other was chicken soup. Now before I go on, I would like to say that I was still supposed to be on smoothies. I was not technically supposed to eat any solid food yet. But we'll get back to that. For both soups, the chicken was finely shredded and the broccoli was also chopped finely. These were both done in the food processor.

Recipe for Broccoli Soup (or other vegetables)

water 

chicken bullion 

Heavy cream

Cream cheese 

Broccoli or other vegetables of choice 

Place the chicken bullion,  water,  and whatever vegetables you want into the cooking pot. Bring this to a boil, and keep at a rolling boil for about 5 minutes.   

Remove the vegetables from the broth and pulse them in a food processor until very fine. (Think fine enough to pass through your stomach if you can't digest it) Add the processed vegetables back into the chicken broth, add the heavy cream, and then add the pre-softened cream cheese. This should be thick, so think less chicken broth and more cream. You can add salt if you want. 

Allow this mixture to simmer until all the cream cheese has mixed with the rest of the soup.  

Serve and eat!

I absolutely love the above soup! Thanks mom! As for the chicken soup she made, it was chicken bullion and water and a little sage. She cooked the chicken tender in the broth, finely shredded the chicken in the food processor, then added the chicken back to the broth.

I also started eating hummus and some soft cheeses to help me feel full. Sometimes I will also just eat a spoonfull or two of peanut butter. My dinner the other day was some peanut butter and a mug of milk and I felt full.

Some may criticize me for adding in chicken so soon to my diet, I wasn't supposed to eat it for three more weeks. I haven't even tried fish yet which was supposed to be a week from now. But I think it was the best decision I've made for myself regarding my post surgery diet. The week and a half before I tried eating the chicken I was nauseated every single day. Sometimes even if I did drink several protein drinks. Since I started adding the shredded chicken I have felt fantastic!  No more nausea, no pain when eating, no bad effects later in the day.

Why am I able to tolerate the chicken? I don't know.  Judging from my past history, I have often healed faster than others. Even when I had my one week follow-up,  my surgeon was surprised that I had already returned to work; even if my job was clerical.

I'm no doctor, and I may unknowingly cause myself to have an ulcer by doing this. I am happy with my choice to go ahead and try the chicken. I will go ahead and start eating fish too. I am also now officially on the week to start cottage cheese, eggs, salads, and other similar soft foods. I finally feel like life is getting back to normal.


Now for my unofficial progress!
When I weighed before my surgery I was 270 lbs. The day I came home from surgery I was 265. When I weighed again on mother's day, two weeks after my surgery, I weighed 247 lbs! That's 23 lbs in two weeks! I didn't realize because I don't own a scale yet. Also, I didn't realize how much different I already looked! From the front I couldn't tell too much, but from the side you can tell how much back fat I have lost! I am so happy!



On the left is the 2 weeks pictures,  on the right is the day I came home from surgery.

I can tell that I have lost more weight since then, but I don't know how much. I have another doctor appointment until two weeks, and then I can get an official weight loss.


Until next time! I hope that some of my journey is helping you!

Post Operative update

Hey all!

It is now day five including the day of my surgery.  I have done extremely well in my opinion.  I have been up and down, taken showers, stuck to my clear liquid diet, drank more protein with each successive day, visited with friends, trolled Facebook,  helped my mom with the dogs, started doing stuff myself instead of asking my mom to make my broth for me or fix my tea and protein.  I really think my recovery has gone as well as I have hoped!

But it's not all unicorns and rainbows either.

I am not one of those lucky people who ceased to crave their favorite foods once I had the surgery.  Of course while I was in the hospital and the day after discharge I didn't really want to do anything but have regular pain medicine and sleep. But now that I am getting back to normal life, I am definitely craving solid food. ESPECIALLY my favorite foods like macaroni and cheese,  boneless buffalo wings, steak, hamburger, pizza ......even the smell of it is getting to be overwhelming.  I just want to have the world's biggest steak all to myself.


But I know that I don't need that; I didn't before my surgery and I definitely don't need it now. So many people think that surgeries like this are an instant fix. I wish it were. But also like so many people, even before having my surgery,  I knew that I was addicted to food. If I get hungry I get cranky, I get headaches, I get nauseated. That is happening some now, but mostly the crankiness; I thankfully have not experienced too much of the nausea or headaches.

I would say today has probably been the worst for me as far as hunger cravings. Which is also a good sign that I am healing well probably.  I think it is partly because I am already tired of the liquid diet, but also I am tired of protein drinks with a sweet taste. I haven't been able to find any unflavored protein yet; I would mix this with my chicken or beef broths. As funny as it seems I am actually a person who prefers salty foods more than sweet foods. Don't get me wrong, I love my share of sweet foods. But I like the salty foods more.

Also, I think I have been confused as to whether I was just experiencing pain or if I was hungry. I have tried to take less and less of my pain medicine, and have been successful.  But since I both drank some protein shots and finally had my pain medicine today, I am not feeling so ravenous.

I have also been trying to distract myself by using this time planning future methods of meal preparation. One of the most important things I plan to do is buy some Bento boxes. These are a Japanese type of product, basically they are compartmentalized food containers. I have been looking at the Gerber brand and the Hello Kitty brand (my favorite! )


                     Gerber food organizer

Hello Kitty Bento Box

I would also like to have this set of small silverware, Hello Kitty brand

Hello Kitty Silverware set, 10 pc

The reason I would like to have these things is to help limit my food intake. I should never need to eat more servings than is found in a kids dinner at a restaurant.  Also, this helps make things a little more fun for me. The silverware should be child size, and as I will be needing to cut my food into pea size portions it will be a relative size. Smaller silverware will also help to prevent me eating a huge heaping mouthful at one time, and will slow me down. I am hoping that this combination will prevent me from stretching my stomach and also prevent me from causing pain to myself.

As far as actual food goes, I have decided to try doing lettuce wraps more than grain wraps. I have had lettuce wraps before and I really like them. As far as switching to non-fat foods. That is really going to get me. I cannot STAND skim milk or low fat cheeses and dairy products. I honestly don't feel like it is worth eating if it is low fat, it just tastes horrible.  So I am going to have to limit my intake of that sort of thing I guess. 

But, I hopefully will get better ideas about making my food tasty yet low fat. I have in the last year discovered that I love both avocado and hummus....I think that will help me a lot.

Here's an inspiring story for us all, to remind us than no matter how hard life is, we can turn it around.

Boy meets girl, loses nearly 400 pounds

Home Safe and Sound.

Hey everyone!

I am home safe and sound at my mom's!

I had to do a diagnostic test to check for leaks in my stomach before I could go home. That really caused me to be nauseous when I got back to my room; in part because of the taste and in part because I had to drink so much.

After that I was able to drink some water and eat a popsicle.

 I spent some time doing a Word-find puzzle and coloring. Then I layed down again for a while. My Roxicet pain medicine actually wore off an hour before I could take it again. So I was pretty miserable after I got discharged until I got home. Then I could take my pain medicine and put on my compression socks to help prevent blood clots. I walked around my mom's house a couple of times and was able to take in a small amount of protein and water again.


Here are some "before" pictures,  although I am quite swollen from my surgery, so you should account for that.

My starting weight is 265 lbs and my clothing size is either 22 or 3X as of today.

Thank you so much to all the well wishes and those following my story. Also thanks to my many friends and family who called or visited me during this time; I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me.

Also special thanks to my surgeon Dr. O. Raphael Nwanguma, his Nurse Practitioner Teresa Stidham, and his staff at Bluegrass Bariatric Surgical Associates. Also to the numerous clinical staff who had a part of my care at The Medical Center thank you. I cannot thank you all enough! They were all so fantastic to me at both places!

I will try to stay updated at least every two weeks!

Successful Surgery!

Hello everyone!  Now that the day has calmed down and I have gotten some sleep, I thought I would share how my surgery went!

Everyone said I did great!

My day officially started at 5:30 AM when I was told to be at the hospital.  We got here on time and waited to get back for a little while. My prep nurse had me change into some sort of paper gown that I wore to surgery. Of course I was nervous, and crying a bit as I seem to do when I am really tired and anxious.  I had my first blown vein ever, when  the nurse inserted my first IV. It looked fine until the nurse tried to run fluid. So she ended up having to place in my hand, which wasn't bad actually. The blown vein doesn't hurt either.  she also gave me a nausea patch that went behind my ear.

During this time a friend named Kayla, who is a surgical tech student graduating in May,  came to visit me while she was doing her clinicals. I was so grateful that she came to visit!

After they had me all set, they let my mom come back while the surgeon, anesthesiologist,  and my OR nurse came to speak with me and take me to surgery. Which of course I was mortified that I had two males because of the issue I had with being naked and not really wanting a Foley Catheter. Thankfully however, they knocked me out before doing that so I suffered none of my usual embarrassment.

After the OR nurse gave me a blood thinner injection,  we were off to the operating room. I just barely remember being wheeled in and scooting over to the operating table. I remember vaguely that they put some kind of boards on the sides of the table for my arms. The next thing I barely remember is waking up slightly in the operating room and hearing them say that I wanted my catheter out before I left surgery and felt that removed. Again thankfully, I was still loopy so barely remember it, and so I really wasn't embarrassed. ..thank God.

When I got to recovery, my nurse there ended up giving me two morphine injections and made sure I was stable. Then she called and gave a report to my nurse for my admission .

My mom and my friend Amanda were waiting in my room when I got there. Yay! They helped the admission nurse, Amy, to get me settled. Also, I had a ton of pillows and have used about all of them. I even brought my own on the suggestion of a friend, Amy Wells. Thank goodness I did follow her advice because it really helped my pain to sit up and press a pillow to my stomach.

I tried lying in bed for a while but at the time it was too uncomfortable.  So they fixed up a chair for me and I sat in that for a few hours. That and the dilaudid they have been giving me about every two hours, mixed with liquid IV acetaminophen has really helped me.

I also got up two or 3 times to go walking and to use the restroom. That also helped my pain although it was a bit painful at first to do so. Otherwise,  they have had compression. Devices on my legs off and on to prevent blood clots.

There have been a couple of times when sharp pain has made me nauseous,  but as soon as I received pain Medicine I felt better within 5 to 10 minutes. Also, my throat was really  sore from intubation so my surgeon let me have a throat spray called Chloraseptic; that helped tremendously with my dry throat. I have also gotten albuterol nebulizer every 4 hours and Zofran to help with my nausea.


I finally managed to get comfortable and go to sleep.  But so far everything has been good. The clinical staff have been completely awesome to me. Hopefully I will feel even better today! I will have to have another UGI to check for leaks in my staple line. But after I pass that test I should go home with my mom for a few days.

My Nurse Practitioner said she was really proud of me for walking so soon, and that I was her best patient right now. Woo hoo!


But that's all for now. I will update tomorrow how my UGI test went.

Pre-Surgery Jitters

I can't believe it is finally the night before surgery. Two weeks ago I wondered if my surgery would ever happen and now it seems so suddenly here.

I think I have done everything I can right now. Cleaned up the house somewhat, cleaned my CPAP equipment (that I do not even want to take), washed some clothes, packed my bags, made semi-homemade soap....and worried about every little thing with regard to my surgery.

Did I do my diet good enough to shrink my liver? Because it seems like I haven't lost any weight this week. But people keep telling me I have. I don't know until surgery time because I don't own a scale.

Am I packing everything I need? Am I packing too much?

Will my surgery go ok? Does the anesthesiologist REALLY know what they're doing....or are they dyslexic with numbers?

Why the hell do I have to bring my CPAP machine when I haven't used it in a year or more? I'm pretty sure if I'm stable I'll be fine without it and will only be irritated by having to wear it. Doubtless there will be arguments about this with my nurse or respiratory therapy or my doctor. But the anesthesiologist threatened to re-intubate me after surgery if I didn't bring it.

Also, I have an extremely large amount of anxiety about being naked in front of people. No telling how many people have said that I won't care once they give me some kind of medicine. ...but I'm pretty sure I will care unless it knocks me out. I think I would rather it knock me out. I don't want to have to see or talk to anyone that sees me naked. I think I am more anxious about this than the actual surgery.

Everyone keeps telling me that "oh the staff won't care, they've seen it all a million times before." Well duh, so have I! I used to work there at the hospital where I'm having my surgery. It's completely different when you are the patient and all these people are potentially going to be looking at you. Possibly judging you because you are overweight.  I care about myself, but I can't put aside a lifetime of disparaging remarks overnight.

But this has been going around and around in my head for 11 months since I started this process. I knew that I would be like this, and I'm just going to have to suck it up and barge through it.


And probably cry like a baby.

But then I'll be ok. :)

So here's to hoping that I will have an update with a positive surgery result and far less anxiety by tomorrow afternoon!

My "skinny" Bucket List

Since my surgery has officially been set for April 24, 2014, I decided to do a fun blog about things I would like to do after I have lost some weight and healed up! Money is always a factor of course. Some of these things are bucket list items I have always wanted to do. So here goes in no particular order!

1. Learn Wing Chun, specifically the Yip Man Branch (teacher of Bruce Lee).
2. Learn Belly dancing. 
3. Learn to scuba dive and go scuba diving.
4. Wear a bikini!
5. Ride roller coasters again.
6. Begin a weight training program. 
7. Go horseback riding again. Learn how to properly ride a horse.
8. Go hike the entire Appalachian Trail.
9. Hike to various waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains. 
10. Go hiking in the Grand Canyon.
11. Learn to snowboard.
12. Go hiking in the Great Redwood Forest.
13. Go camping/ hiking at Yellowstone National Park.
14. Go on the wild cave tour at Mammoth Cave National Park.
15. Visit the Great Pyramids and other ancient wonders of Egypt. (That's a lifelong wish)
16. Visit the United Kingdom and Ireland to see castles and Stonehenge. 
17. Go to Hawaii (I'm going in September 2014!)
18. Wear sophisticated and elegant clothing!
19. Go on a date! (They need better game than the leading line: "Hey Beautiful, what yo name is?")
20. Visit the Harry Potter  theme park at Universal Studios.
21. Go kayaking. 
22. Learn to fly a plane.
23. Go Parasailing. 
24. Swim with dolphins! (I will get to do this in September! )
25. Get the job that I want!
26. Have children! Get Married!
27. Adopt children!
28. Visit Japan and visit the Emperor's Palace and the traditional temples.
29. Visit the Taj Mahal. 
30. Ride a camel.
31. Visit the Mayan ruins....as many as possible.
32. Visit Morocco. 
33. Visit Greece.
34. Visit Italy again.
35. Visit Russia.
36. Visit Turkey.
37. Visit Israel.
38. Visit Germany and tour the concentration camps, Normandy beach, and other WWII historical sites.
39. Drive like Mario Andretti down the German Autobahn.....within reason...of course. (I'm sure this will never happen. No need to worry.)
40. Take Latin dancing classes with a male partner.
41. Sing in a choir again. 
42. Go water skiing and water tubing.
43. Wear a couture gown.
44. Join the Red Cross disaster relief program and volunteer during natural disasters.
45. Learn how to be an EMT/First Responder.
46. Learn 911 dispatching.
47. Be a police officer.
48. Be a forensic specialist homicide detective.
49. Write a work of fiction that gets published.
50. Help build a house with Habit for Humanity. 
51. Participate in a 5K.

Ok that's all I can think of right now! I may update with more later!

Extremely Excited and hopeful!

It has only been one week, but so many things have happened since I last wrote.

In my last blog, I wrote how frustrated I was at my setbacks due to needing cardiac clearance and problems with scheduling. First let me say that miracles do happen, and they are brought about by extremely kind and generous people.

After my initial cardiac visit, I had gone over to my bariatric surgeon's office to let them know the timeframe for my cardiac clearance. Unbeknownst to me, when the bariatric office found out, they called the cardiologist office and asked them to move up my tests and appointments. They were kind enough to do so, and since last week I have had a stress cardiac echo, a baseline cardiac echo, and then today I received cardiac clearance.  What's more, the cardiologist advised me that my bariatric surgeon would receive my clearance letter in two days.


But guess what?! I just received a call that the cardiologist had already sent his cardiac clearance for me, and that they are submitting my case to the insurance company!

In anticipation of my surgery,  I will meet with my surgeon this Thursday,  April 17 for a pre-op visit.

The best news of all? We are shooting to have my surgery by April 24, which is just over a week from today!!!!!! I am tentatively hopeful, but I feel that everything from here on out will go well. This month I have received numerous setbacks,  but now that I am over them, I think the surgery and life will fall into place!


Keeping my fingers crossed!

Beyond Frustrated

I'd like to preface this blog, by saying I have the utmost respect and trust for my doctors involved in this process for my Bariatric Surgery.


Having said that, I currently would like to scream and throw the biggest tantrum ever. I had to go get Cardiac clearance for my surgery today. I'm thinking, 'I don't have a heart history,  this should be a piece of cake.'

WRONG.

He asks me, "Do you have shortness of air when going up a hill?" I reply, "Yes." We had already discussed my Asthma and lack of exercise.  So he says, "Okay, I want to schedule a baseline echo of your heart and a stress Echo of your heart. When are you planning to have your surgery?" I tell him I would like to have it before April is over, but I am still in need of Pre-Approval from my insurance.  Thus the reason for today's visit. He takes me to the scheduling desk and they inform me that I can get in this week for the stress echo, but I can't get into the baseline echo at their office until the 21st of the month. Plus I can't schedule my follow-up visit with the cardiologist for 4 weeks. Well at that I just busted out crying.

Another damn month of trying to get this surgery. This is literally the only thing holding me back from asking for approval from insurance.  Not only that, but the job that I have been wanting to work at for more than 3 years is going to be hiring in a month. Assuming that I were to get this job, does that mean I would have to choose between having my surgery and taking the job?

My stress level over this is out the roof. Not to mention, I happen to have met some people who just a month or two ago decided to have the same surgery, and now they have had their surgery. Today is 10 months or more that I have been trying to get this surgery.

Of all the things to delay my surgery I thought it would be the Pulmonary Clearance,  but that was a breeze.


This is just how the whole process has gone for me; I'll think I'm close, only to have setback after setback. I am really trying to stay positive,  but it's getting very difficult.  I keep saying, "I'm going to be able to get my surgery, it's going to happen!" But then I wonder, is it really? Because it seems like the universe keeps trying to tell me no.

A Blessing in Disguise.

I spoke in my last blog about having to switch to another Medicaid due to the original not being accepted at my doctor's office. This must have been a blessing in disguise. I say this because I was supposed to have my last diet visit today and I knew I had gained over my starting weight. It turns out that the new Medicaid will accept fewer months of dieting and I was at my goal weight in the final month that they will accept. So that is a major stress relief for me!

I still have to get cardiac clearance and pulmonary clearance, but those appointments are two weeks sooner than the  additional psych visit required by the other Medicaid.

In short I am feeling much more positive about my surgery today!

Will this Insurance Saga Never End?

As mentioned in my last post, I have had to go on Kentucky Medicaid insurance due to losing my job. I am extremely grateful for this of course, but having Medicaid comes with it's own set of problems.  Originally I had chosen to be on the Humana Caresource managed Medicaid; according to the Humana Caresource insurance, they were In-Network with all of my doctors. Well lo and behold I went to my primary care doctor yesterday,  and the clinic advised me that they are not contracted with my managed Medicaid.  So I had to pay $62.00 out of pocket to see my doctor.....non-refundable.


However,  the silver lining is that I am still within the 30 day grace period which allows me to switch to another managed Medicaid.  After speaking with Lisa, the insurance specialist at my Bariatric Surgeon's office, I found out that they actually accept all forms of managed Medicaid.  Lisa was then so nice that she personally called over to my primary care doctor's clinic, and personally verified which forms of managed Medicaid they accepted there.

After gaining this new knowledge,  I decided to switch to Wellcare. This brings yet more hoops to jump through, but I am hoping I will actually get to have my surgery sooner.

With the Humana Caresource, I was going to have a second Psych Eval and I couldn't get in until almost a month after my last diet visit.

With Wellcare I will have to have Pulmonary and Cardiac clearance. Yet I was able to get into both appointments quickly. I should have no problem getting clearance for either. Even the Pulmonary clearance,  because my Asthma has been stable without medication for years.

I'm still trying to stay positive, but the fact of the matter is that I won't allow myself to hope too much until I am being prepped for surgery.

More Diagnostics

Today I had some blood work done, and an Upper Gastric Image (UGI). The UGI is to check for stomach ulcers and also possible hernias and acid reflux. It showed that I have acid reflux, but thankfully nothing that should delay my surgery! The radiologist said that I will just be prescribed an antacid. Oh happy day!

In other news I received a callback for a second job interview. I had held my first interview about 1-2 months ago. While I am excited about possibly working at a new job, I am also concerned that it will throw me once again into an insurance nightmare, if I were to get the job. I am so close to getting my surgery, and I don't want anything to jeopardise that. However,  if I am offered the job I can't refuse the job offer, as I will potentially lose my unemployment. Although I am worried about this, I am going to stay positive. I am going to get my surgery.

On a happier note, I got my hair cut and will donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths! I am told that Pantene gives their wigs to cancer patients for free. Look at this beautiful beast!

Best News Ever!!!!!

For those of you who don't already know, the last few months have been a little rough on me. To sum up events, I started working at a new job. Before I was hired, they kept saying that their insurance covered bariatric surgery; only to discover upon hire that their company had opted out of the policy type which would allow me to have the surgery. While I do like to blame my employer for that, the truth is that I should have made absolutely sure before accepting the job. Also, long story short, I was terminated from my position at that same job after only 3 months. They said that I wasn't able to do the job, but my personal opinion is that we ended up not getting along and as a result they didn't want to invest the time to train me. However you view it, it will always be a he said she said. I know that I am a valuable employee, and that's good enough for me.

Now, I only told you that story to tell you this story. When that employer fired me, they gave me the best blessing anyone could ever ask for. Not only do I get my unemployment benefits,  but because of the new obamacare I also get Medicaid insurance. By having this insurance I am eligible to have my surgery. I was able to still keep going to my appointments while on the previous insurance and then when I lost my job I had to pay out of pocket. But it was all worth it, because now  I will get help. I have one more diet visit and some tests, and then I can apply for approval to have the surgery.

There is a part of me that is embarrassed at being on "welfare". Then I remember that I have worked since I was 16 and paid my taxes. I was able to go through college with scholarships, grants, and loans and with some help from my family, but I also worked full time for the majority of my college career. I have also paid into unemployment during at least the last 7 years. So despite my embarrassment at being on welfare, and despite the stigma associated with it, I am so grateful.

I am overjoyed at how blessed I am in life. I may have had some serious worries, but I knew even then that I was blessed with family and friends who were helping me get through that tough time. I am hopeful and positive that by the time I turn 30 in September, my life will again be on the track I wish it to be on. I will update later in the month to tell everyone my next progress.


And for your listening pleasure: Ellie Goulding