I am 28 years old and have been ready for a lifestyle change for a long time now. I have my own family with a 3 year old son that I am trying to keep up with. Before I got pregnant I weighed around 190 lbs and by the end of my pregnancy I weighed 260 lbs. I thought I could lose the weight on my own. I have been fluctuated between 240 and 250 since I had my son in 2010. In February of 2012 I spoke with my husband and my doctor about different scenarios how to lose weight.
I had gone to different weight loss seminars, and done hours of research on Bariatric Surgery. My mother had Gastric Bypass Surgery a few years ago, but I just can't justify having my inside redirected. I have a friend at work that started to go forward with the process to get the Lap-Band. So, I did more and more research on the Lap-Band. I decided to speak to The Weight Loss Institute of Arizona about my personal situation. They were so awesome to work with. They told me exactly what I needed to do and outlined the entire process. I needed to start with a 6 month weight check process with my regular doctor. OK, just to let you know weight checks are a super PAIN IN THE BUM. You have to go every month and pay the copay and talk to your doctor about why you are fat and what you are doing to try and control it.
Preceding with the monthly weight checks I needed to get blood work done, a chest x-ray, an ultrasound on my stomach and surrounding area and an EGD. An EGD is a Esophagogastroduodenoscopy - which is when they shove a camera down your throat to look at your stomach. Also, a huge pain in the bum. Pretty much a surgical procedure. I had to go into a surgery center and put on the hospital gown, and be put under by anesthesia. I don't know about you, but I have a bit of this thing called anxiety. Right before I went in I thought I was going to cry . . .hard. My Doctor is super awesome and personable. I don't know what I would have done with out him. Dr. Debarros from WLIA kept me calm and told me a story about his shenanigans at court. To say the least super funny guy who seems like a life long friend. After the EGD I was told that I HAD to quit smoking and that I had a hernia that needed to be removed at the
time of surgery - OK LETS DO THIS THING!
I got everything done on my check list even got the letter from insurance letting me know that I was pre-approved for surgery. Getting super excited at this point.
I got an email from my nurse at WLIA telling me that I needed to investigate my medical records. For insurance I needed 5 years of recorded medical records. All I could think was - Holy Mary Mother of Pearl ..... I was that type of person that would rather have money to spend than to pay for medical insurance. . . so - oh sh*t was the only proper thing to say. A very long and aggravating time later, lets say its November before the holidays. I was denied for surgery. NOOOOOOOOOOO!
So, now after a bit of sulking... it was a new year. My insurance had changed and only needed 3 years of medical records. Ok - here is a break for me. WLIA resubmitted my case and it was APPROVED. . . buuuuuuuttt surgery need to take place at a UHC (United Health Care) Center of excellence. Did that mean that surgery at the WLIA center was out of the question? Yup. sure did. I have to go to a hospital now, and it is going to cost more money. After I cried to my insurance and to the benefits department at my job. I decided that I still wanted and needed the surgery.
So here we are. March of 2013. I had my pre-op appointment last Monday, March 4th. We went over everything, including what I could expect in exercise, medication, and my diet (PreOp & PostOp). Am I scared about this diet? I would have to say absolutely, but I can do this. I have found numerous support groups on and off line. WLIA has a facebook group as well as monthly meeting.
My PreOp diet lets just pretty much call it my liquid diet of future happiness! Today is Saturday March 10th. This Liquid diet of future happiness begins on Monday, March 11th. I will post again a few days into my journey. This is the beginning of my journey, stay tuned to find out if I can go form my current weight of 244 lbs to my goal weight of 125 lbs.
DUN DUN DUN. . . talk to you all soon.
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