Thursday, September 28, 2006

New news...

Well, it has been a very busy week. Back a few posts ago I mentioned a meeting that Bruce and I wanted to go to at the Methodist hospital. Well it was the same night as AWANA for the kids. Needless to say, we didn't get to go. But...
Tuesday night they had another informational meeting at the hospital. Come to find out, they have these meetings twice a month. So, Jeanie and Tim came over to watch the kids, giving Bruce and I the chance to go this time. It was a very interesting meeting. I came away both excited and afraid at the same time.
I was excited because I got to meet some of the woman that work in the weightloss clinic. People that I will be able to go to for the rest of my life for advice and help. That is very comforting. They said that "if you keep up with them, they will keep up with you". I found out that I will be talking to a dietitian about meals before and after surgery. She will be able to help me figure out meals for me and meals for the family. They also took us thru the surgeries (Lap-Band and RNY Gastric Bypass) step by step and let us ask questions along the way. They talked about insurance, psychological evaluation, post operative procedures and depression.
I had already gone out on the internet and researched as much about these procedures as I could. But it was nice to hear from the surgeon and nurses that will be taking care of me. Yes, I said surgeon. Dr. Stanish, my surgeon, was not there it was his birthday. But his associate was. It seems that one of the two of them, if not both of them, attends these meetings .
That night there was a woman there, Gloria, that had bypass surgery done 2 years ago. She was 320 pounds at her heaviest. Today she is 180. She went from a size 28 to a 12. It was good to get a chance to meet her and ask questions. She said that she is so happy with her surgery. That she would "do it again in a heart beat".
The meeting also left me feeling a little fearful. They talked about how if you are a real sweets eater, than the bypass may be a better option for you. The reason being that if you have the bypass done, and then eat something that is very sweet, then you may experience what they called dumping (intestinal cramps, sweating, diarrhea). They said that some people see this as aversion therapy. That "if I eat this sweet, then I am going to have that, and I don't like that, so I am not going to eat this". Oh, and it's not just sweets. It can happen with high fat foods, as I sit here eating sausage links for breakfast, and dairy.
For the bypass surgery they talked about protein shakes, supplements, leaks around the incisions in the stomach, having to go back in to stop the leaks, clots, vomiting, malnutrition (because of the way they re-route the intestines your body doesn't get the opportunity to absorb the nutrients that you need. If you don't follow the post operative diet, then this may become an issue), stretching the stomach back out, death (it is surgery. There is always a risk).
The Lap-Band surgery has it's own list of complications. You do not have the dumping. So you have to watch every little thing that you eat. You can stretch the stomach back out. If you don't follow the post operative diet, you may/will not loose weight. If you don't keep up with your post operative check ups, then the band may slip. If you eat too big a meal, you may/will vomit. If you do this too often it could cause the band to slip. If that happens then they have to go back in and reposition it. I will have the band for the rest of my life. There will be a port under my skin just below the rib cage. With this port they can adjust the tightness of the band. The nurse said it is like giving blood. One needle stick and it's done. I told Bruce, one needle stick may be, but the needle is 18 inches long :-)
No matter which surgery I have, I have to be on a full liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery. I don't know what full liquids are, but I don't think they are talking about the state of my stomach. I did ask about the possibility of having children after surgery. They said that yes, you can have children after surgery usually. They said that with the bypass, it may not be possible. Just because you are having to work so hard to get all the calcium, iron, protein and vitamins that you need for yourself. Let alone for an unborn baby. With the Lap-Band they said that you could carry a baby to term with little problems. They would just have to remove all the saline from the band allowing the stomach to take in more food. Then the band would have to be adjusted , tightened, after the baby is born. Which ever surgery I have, the nurse said that it would probably be a year or two after surgery before I could even think about getting pregnant again. Now, just for the record. Bruce and I have been talking about having a third child. I started talking about it first. Then I stopped because of the idea of surgery. Now Bruce is talking about it. So, we will all just have to wait and see.
You can see why I came away feeling both excitement and fear. I am still leaning toward the Lap-Band. I think I can give up the sweets in order to not go thru the leaking, dumping, and malnutrition. I also think that the Lap-Band is the best option for me when I think about maybe having another child. I wouldn't want to have the bypass and then get pregnant and have complications, for me or the baby.
Yesterday I got THE CALL. Chris, from the weightloss center, called me. She contacted my insurance company and found that the procedure, Dr and hospital are all covered. YIPPEE!!!
Today I have to call my doctors office and ask them if they will release my medical records to the weightloss center. You see. Just a couple of months ago we switched doctors. Chris said that the new doctor may not release the records from the old doctors office. If they won't release them, than I have to go back to Westchester and ask for a copy of my file. The insurance company needs the records to obtain a 5 year record of my weight.
Once the insurance company has my medical records, and a letter from the doctor saying that this surgery is medically necessary, then my file goes before a medical review board to determine if they think I should have the surgery or not. 30 business days later, I should have an answer from the insurance company. If they agree that the surgery is medically necessary, then it will all covered under our insurance and we will only be responsible for deductible and 10% of the cost of surgery.
So, there you have it. The new news as of today.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Mixed Emotions

This morning I was looking thru some of the paper work I got from the hospital about my weighloss surgery. I found some thing that said I had to call my insurance company and see if they would cover any of the expenses. Come to find out the hospital where the surgery is going to take place is in my network, as is the doctor. WOO HOO!! According to the insurance company all I have to cover is my yearly deductible, $500.00 and pay 10% of the cost of the surgery (ouch!). From what I have read, surgery could be anywhere from $11,000 - $40,000. According to what I've read, we are expected to pay our part up front. We are going to have to tighten our financial belt.
I called the weighloss center today and asked how long it would be from the time they receive my application to the date of surgery. Donna told me that it usually takes 12 - 16 weeks. She said that some people go faster. It all depends on what the insurance company wants. She also told me that they received my application yesterday. I can expect that the person who reviews the applications, Chris, will probably call me Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (oh, I have goosebumps!!).
If you look at the calander, which I did as soon as I hung up the phone, 12 weeks takes us out to the week before Christmas. Happy New Year!!
Ok, so that's all I know for now. I will report when I hear from Chris.

Anniversary


Yesterday, Thursday Sept 21, was our 10 year anniversary. I can't believe it has been 10 years. Then again, I can't believe it has only been 10 years!
Wednesday afternoon I went to Best Buy (aka. Toys R Us for Bruce) and got him a new flat screen monitor for his home office. He has been asking for one for some time now. The monitor that he had been using was only 15 inches. The one I bought him was 19. I think that will help him see the detailed programming that he has to read/write for his job.
I knew that setting up the monitor in his office meant that he might find it the night before, but I took my chances anyway. When Bruce got home, he didn't go to his office (surprise, surprise. Usually he takes Missy, his laptop, down to his office and plugs her in). So my secret was safe.
Thursday morning I took Bruce down to his office and showed him his gift. It was fun. He was just telling me about how he had talked to his boss about getting a bigger monitor. She said that he could request one for the Chicago office, but that we would have to purchase the one for home. Is that timing or what?!?
After looking at the monitor, Bruce decided that there was another one he would like to have. Something about having more resolution. I don't know. But he decided to take the one I got back and exchange it.
The rest of my anniversary day was spent running errands.
I have a list of things that I have been trying to get done since Monday. I think I have done about 3 of the 12 tasks on the list. I keep getting side tracked.
My friend, Jeanie, called and asked me if I would be willing to taxi she and her husband around for doctor appointments. Jeanie just got out of the hospital after being admitted for an infection. Her husband just had open heart surgery, about 2 months ago, and he can't drive. So I spent the biggest part of my day running them around from place to place. It was fun, and I didn't mind doing it. Besides Bruce was at work. It just wasn't want I expected to be doing on my anniversary.
By the time Bruce got off work, took Ethan to his counseling appointment and I got home it was 6:30. When I got back home, Bruce was back to work, and the kids were starved. After determining that Bruce had no specific plans for our anniversary, I made dinner and we ate at home.
After dinner Bruce took back his monitor. It was too late to take the kids. Ethan had to get to bed so he could get up for school the next day. So I stayed home and Bruce went to Best Buy. Before he left Bruce told me what he was planning to get me for our anniversary. He said that he had been looking at new digital cameras. I haven't taken any pictures with our camera in almost a year because the batteries don't seem to hold a charge. Bruce says that they do, but every time I try to use the camera it is flashing low battery.
When we were at his family reunion his cousin, Jacob and his wife, Candace were there. Candace's father is a wedding photographer. Candace has a very nice digital camera with a very large lens. One night we all decided to go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and play. I couldn't ride most of the rides so I was the official camera holder. Candace told me to take pictures and have fun. It was great!! I love taking pictures. I got to zoom in on family members faces as they all were on the bumper cars, as they went flying past on the Ferris wheel, or spinning by on the carousel. Any way. Bruce has been in contact with Jacob, trying to figure out which camera would be good for us. It will be fun to be able to take pictures again. I have a camera phone, but it doesn't take great pictures.
So, there you have it. How I spent my 10th anniversary. It was a busy day. It wasn't what I expected. But it was a good day.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

It is done

As the subject states, IT IS DONE!!!
I mailed my weighloss surgery application today. I am not sure why it took me so long. Other than I was waiting to make a copy of my health insurance card. I was going to have Bruce do it at work, only I kept forgetting to ask him to do it at work. I dont have personal access to a copier now that we left Washington Church. I think that the office personel at the churches we have been visiting would look at me really strange if I came in and asked to have a copy of my insurance card made. (HA!) So today Emma and I went to the UPS store and made the copy.

Emma was so cute. After we got back from Bible study this morning, I gathered together all the "run around stuff" I had to do today and we got ready to leave. Before we left I asked Emma to pray with me over the application. We thanked God for giving me this opportunity, we asked Him to get my application to the right person with out getting lost in the mail, we asked Him to help the process go smoothly and that the answer would come back quickly. We also prayed for His will to be done no matter what the outcome. Emma had no clue what I was praying for. She couldn't quite understand praying over a piece of paper. But she did it. It was a sweet moment.
So now I wait.... and pray.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

This past weekend we packed up the kids and went to OH to see my family. We had a great time. I got a chance to tell all of them about my plans for surgery. They are all very supportive. I even sat down and showed my 80something Grandmother how to read my blog (Hi Granny!!).

Monday night was open house at Ethan's school. His teacher is so nice. She had us sit at Ethan's desk where Ethan had made a surprise for us. It was a puzzle that he drew and cut apart. If I remember right, his puzzle was of a flag, a tree, and himself. It was very well done. Then we had to make a puzzle for Ethan to find the next day. Bruce drew a flag, and the play equipment in our back yard. I drew in the fence and a tree. It was fun.

Yesterday I went to ladie's Bible study at one of the local churches. There were over 200 women there. I told my friend that to me it was more like a womans conference than Bible study. We are studying the book of Proverbs and wisdom.

Bruce and I are suppose to go to an informational meeting about the surgery tonight. But, the kids have AWANA and I don't have anyone to take them and pick them up. Besides, tonight is Emma's first night in the Cubbies room and I am not sure how she will do. Some times she runs into church and is fine. Other times she cries. I don't want to put a sitter in that kind of uncomfortable position. Bruce thinks that we can find a sitter and go. I think we may have to miss this meeting and hope that the next one isn't on a Wednesday night. It's another wait and see.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Daisy Rose???

There have been some questions as to why I chose Daisy Rose to be my name. If you know me you know that I am not really girlie or frilly. So why such a flowery name?
Well, daisies and roses are my two favorite flowers. Daisies are so fresh and bright. And roses smell so good and are romantic.
I figure if Bruce reads this blog than he will always know my 2 favorite flowers.

On a different note...

I am finally finished filling out all the paper work for the surgery.
I tell you what. Can any of you recall every diet you have ever been on, what you weighed when you started, how much you lost and how long you were on the diet? I had a hard time, but I did my best to fill in the information accurately.
I have to say, though, that tracking what I ate for a week was harder than I thought it would be. I looked back over my list and saw that I don't eat many veggies and I eat a lot of carbs. It is very humbling to be honest with yourself and put on that paper that you had 3 ice cream sandwiches on a particular day. (did I say that out loud?)
On Wednesday I had a doctors appointment with my GP. I wanted to know what he thought of the procedures, if he knew the surgeon, what he thinks of the hospital, and if I could do my follow up care with him?
My GP had only good things to say. He was very encouraging. He said that the procedures, gastric by-pass and lab-band, have both been found to be very successful. That it is up to me to decide how invasive I want my surgery to be. He said that the surgeon is the best in our area (and he assured me that he wasn't just saying that because they went to college together). He said that the hospital is a little iffy, but that the surgeon runs a tight ship in his department and my GP believes that the surgeon is quite reliable. My GP told me that if I had come to him asking about weight loss surgery, he would have referred me to the same person.

We did decide to put me on the diet pill phentermine. We did this because I have not been on a doctor supervised diet, since I lived at home. My GP pointed out that some insurance companies won't approve you for weight loss surgery until you have done a 6 months doctor supervised diet. So, we are in hopes that this will get a jump start on the insurance company.
Doctor told me that there are two possible side effects to this diet pill. If I take it too late in the day, it could cause insomnia (phentermine is a stimulant). If this happens he said to take it earlier in the morning. Also he said that it can increase my blood pressure. He said that my blood pressure was low enough that he wasn't concerned (Chalk that up to good genes, thanks mom). I have to go back in a month to have my blood pressure checked, just to make sure that every thing is still ok, and weigh in.
As I was leaving my GP told me to keep doing what I am doing (Curves 2-3 times a week when I can), and to keep pursuing the weight loss surgery.
Needless to say I am very excited. I see this as one step closer to my goal.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

What's up

Ok, so now Bruce has me set up and blogging.
I really didn't fight him too hard. I was thinking of starting a blog on my own.
You see, I just received an application from one of our local hospitals to have the lap band surgery (I asked for it). I think this is a good way to journal some of my thoughts about the process. This is a life changing event and I am really nervous. Every time I think about it my stomach fills with butterflies.
I have only told a few people, until now. Every one I've talked to about the surgery has been very encouraging/excited for me.
I am in hopes to have the surgery before the end of the year, but I'm not so sure that will happen.
I have the application filled out. I just have to record every thing I eat for a week. I will be finished recording my food next Wed. So, I should be able to stick it in the mail on Thursday.
There go those butterflies again. I think they move around because they know that if I do have the surgery they will have less room :-)

Friday, September 01, 2006

My first post

Ok. I think my husband has hit his high point. He has been wanting me to do this for years!! An impromptu picture of our daughter was all he needed to get me started. He is right. It is very easy to take a picture on my cell phone and send it here for family and friends to see.

I am new so bare with me.

There is so much to learn. It is a little overwhelming. Maybe that's why it has taken me so long to start blogging. I keep a house, two kids and a husband. I never thought I would have time to blog (I still am not convinced that I will, but I'll give it a try. For Bruce's sake). And if I did blog, who would want to read it. Ok, so I can answer my own question. Bruce would want to read it. But that is only because he thinks I will be talking about him. And I probably will. We'll have to wait and see.