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View Full Version : One Year Ago Today....



jttaurus
10-09-2006, 02:26 PM
:dizzy:
I officially began my WLS journey. I began my inital journey as Lap Band, but rationally RNY was the best option for me. I submitted all my paperwork for RNY eventhough I thought I wanted Lap Band. I beleive Dr B covered both of the procedures in the consult. Which was very long, I couldn't beleive how much information there was. I was approx 247, 5'5 and my BMI was 39.4. I had uncontrolled hypertension, chronic back pain (which surgery did not help), all kinds of family risk factors, and untested apnea ( I can tell by the quality of my sleep), there were other things, but it was the hypertension in the end that qualified me due to my BMI being borderline at qualifying without a comorbidity.


I had my psych exam and consult with dr bauman. I remember wearing a size 2x old navy halloween tee and a size 22 pair of khaki shorts. Today, I wear a size 10 and a large, what a difference a year can make. I currently don't have much to wear so the sizes could be off a tad. I am going 'winter' shopping this weekend since I have a gap hoddie in hot pink and a size l gap pull over sweater, I probably paid $10 for the both of them.

So, back to the story. Because I don't have much money, I didn't do my
nutrionist appointment. Dr B's was kind enough to submit my paperwork and allow me to defer the nutrionist appointment until we knew if I"d be approved for surgery.

I began my journey around Oct 10th/11th of last year and the monday before Thanksgiving I called UHC out of curiosity and they congratulated me and told me I was approved. I was in disbeleif. I felt like I was swirling in circles, over and over. I was approved. I was estatic.
I scheduled the rest of my appointments for 12/12 which was my daughter's 5th birthday.

Around Martin Luther King day all my information was verified and I spoke with DR B's office. I delayed my surgery until 2006 because I didn't want to have surgery during the holidays and I had to make sure my childcare and money were in line.

I set up flexspending account to put all my money in for the surgery expenses then I didn't have any excuses why not to have it. When I got my surgery call the nurse mentioned 2/22 as the date. This date was my mother's birthday, she passed away in 2003. I knew my surgery was going to be sucessful and this date was significant for me.

I was so nervous before surgery. I continued to obsess and wonder what life would be like. On 2/22/2006 I went to North East Medical and was estatic with what I left with. I had a new lease on life. I wasn't too far over the 100lb threshold but I was coming out healtiehr then I went in.

I had a wonderful surgery, no anesthisa problems, nothing. I was off work for 3 weeks and recovered beautifully. I am now 7 months post op and had no complications. Not a thing. I am fully confident that I Would have regretted having the lap band. I am not a person who can committ to frequent visits to the dr's or continous monitoring. I did not get the fobi pouch due to the same risk factors of things getting stuck as with the Lap Band. In the end, RNY was the best decision for me.

I met this awsome group of ladies approx 1 year ago and they have been supportive and non-judgemental of me and my decisioning. I even offered to leave the site because I didn't have a band. They wouldn't let me.
(actually it was lapbandtalk.com) not this site.

So, here's my story and how my life has changed in 365 days. I am down 80lbs and weigh near 170. I would like to lose 20-30 more but will not risk my health or nutrition to get there. My body will do what is able to naturally. I was off my blood pressure medicines with in 3 months of my weight loss.

Jennifer :wacko:

LindaV
10-09-2006, 03:20 PM
Congratulations, Jennifer! I will say one thing for most of us with the band. We all know how hard it is to lose weight and we all know that whether it's RNY or the Lap Band, it still takes plenty of strength, perseverence and willpower on our parts.

You are to be congratulated!

Kim G
10-09-2006, 03:24 PM
Jennifer I love your story...how great is that. You are right you have come into our lives and you couldn't just walk out like that becuase our weight loss tool is different.

Congrats on the year..and look forward to spending more years with you.(even if you aren't in NC you will have a connection to us always!)

Mrs Sabre
10-09-2006, 04:31 PM
You've done great, and we're happy you hung around! Keep up the great work!

wavydaby
10-09-2006, 05:11 PM
hooooRAY JENNIFER!!
We need to have some celebration soup!!
:)

Hippo's Hope
10-09-2006, 07:41 PM
Jennifer, What a great story! We are so happy for you and your success!!
Hope

kelliebelly
10-10-2006, 01:01 AM
Ill just back up what everyone else has said, No matter what WLS you have its hard, I am really happy for your success and thanks for the update.

HeatherGurl
10-10-2006, 07:47 AM
Congratulations! You have done an awesome job!

Kathy
10-10-2006, 02:34 PM
I just loved reading that Jen. How wonderful! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for sticking around. :) We ARE hard to leave behind, eh? :heh: Well, yer pretty cute yerself. :)