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Gastric Bypass Entry
October 9, 2006
I officially began my WLS (weight loss surgery) journey. I began my inital journey as Lap Band, but rationally RNY (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ) 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.
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
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