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My Tate 1984 Classmate Contact & Reunion Page

After Surgery:   2001    2002    2003    2004  2005 and After

06/07/2001:     35 years old. 5'5" 329 lbs. BMI 55 (not proud of that!) My Primary Physician agrees today that I need to have this surgery. Tried everything, more health problems, still healthy enough to have the surgery now. He is looking into surgeons for me, one with good experience & success rate. I need to have the lap RNY vs. the Open, due to possible down time. Can't be off work. Still have to go to the insurance company to get approved. Pro-America Up &UP -PPO Network. Insurance coverage book looks like it will cover me. Most important is good doctor & insurance approval. Hopefully will find out more soon.

06/09/2001:     Went to support group meeting. Really impressed. Lots of people, lots of information, really touched me.

06/11/2001:     Faxed all of the surgeon & insurance requirement info to my PCP as we discussed. Now wait to hear from them.

06/13/2001:     Nurse from PCP's office called to say that they had called UAB, Dr. Glysteen's office & were told he was full & not taking any more patients. My PCP said he wanted to approve the Surgeon, so she asked about me choosing Dr. Stahl. He said "excellent surgeon". That was all I needed. She said they would start the paperwork with my insurance co., get medical files ready for the surgeon (will pick up on Monday) & take to Stahl's office with my completed packet. Then will get a consult appt., about one week hopefully. Surgery can be as soon as two weeks after consult, if all gets done on time. Fingers crossed!

06/18/2001:     Well, never received the packet from Dr. Stahl's office (checked mailbox tons). Made arrangements to take Monday a.m. off work to pick up medical records & turn packet in. So I got my 5 years of medical records from PCP and drove to Dr. Stahl's office. They still had my packet, fixing to mail it. Told them I would bring it back shortly. They stressed over & over that I needed to read it carefully & get signature pages witnessed. Not a problem, but they doubted me. Went and sat down, read packet carefully, took paperwork to bank & had notarized and returned all. They still did not think I read it. But were impressed that it was notarized. GOT ME A CONSULT APPT! Finally. Next Tuesday, 06/26 at 3:00 p.m. I have everything ready, tons of documentation, pictures, etc. Lists of Psychiatrists so I can get that done, I am ready to GO!

06/26/2001:     I had my first appt. with Dr. Stahl today. I have mixed feelings after today. Not about having the surgery, I am still completely committed, but I didn't walk away as "elated" as I expected. First of all I got there early, at 2:30 for a 3:00 appt. The room was packed and nowhere to sit. So I stood. But the receptionist called me over to tell me that they did not have me scheduled for an appt. I told her that she herself booked the appt. last week, and she wrote the appt. card, which I produced for her. She tried to tell me that I may have to come back, and I told her "no way", I will wait all day if you will just fit me in, I took off work and went to alot of trouble for this. She insisted that they may not be able to work me in, but this was their fault, not mine. So I waited. She called me back up to again see if I would come back later, and I again said no, I wanted to wait. She appeared to be frustrated with me, but I hate it. She then called me over to ask if I would consider seeing the other surgeon, Dr. Sherer. I told her no. I came to see Dr. Stahl, so I was going to see Dr. Stahl. She then came back to say that they would "fit me in". I met some nice people talking to them in the waiting room. I saw Sandra Roth, who had surgery one & 1/2 weeks ago. She looked GREAT. She has lost 25 lbs.! So proud of her. So, I ended up being the last one back, knowing that he would be tired and ready to go. There had been an emergency he had to attend to, and had put him behind. I measured in at 5'5", so I did lose an inch, and that was with my tennis shoes on. I weighed in at 340#. God, how awful. After cutting back and being better with food for a month, I have gained 11 more lbs. One lady came out upset because he told her he could not do the lap because her weight was mainly in her stomach. Doctor Stahl came in, introduced himself, and we began. We discussed all of my medical conditions and the surgery itself and then he examined me briefly. Checking my breathing, etc., and stomach. He then said that I have a BMI of 57 and that my weight alone would exclude me from LAP surgery. WHAT A BLOW! I HAVE to have LAP!!! He then said "But because I am so heavy in my hips, thighs & butt, that he could do lap on me and change to open if there was a problem. BUT under the condition that I don't gain anymore weight and he would even like me to LOSE some. GOD, my weight gain has been an average of 5-10 lbs a month for the last 6 months. So I am somewhat discouraged, but encouraged that I can have the surgery so far. He said he doesn't agree with the insurance companies requiring the psych eval, that it doesn't serve any purpose other than red tape, but for me to pick someone and go get it done and have them fax over my results. He said he felt there would be no problem with getting approval from the insurance company, I guess because of my weight and health problems. So now the race is on to get approval and stuff done. Suzy, the lady that does the insurance has been very nice. The receptionist has not been overly accommodating, hesitating at everything I try to do. Suzy said that they would wait to file my paperwork until they got the Psych eval, and I asked her not to, to please file the "letter of medical necessity" as the insurance said they need it first to get the ball rolling. If they will at least get my paperwork to them, then the insurance company can open a file and get it going. I don't have much confidence that they will, but hope so. I will check with the insurance co. & see. Also I have to call tomorrow and get a psych appt scheduled. I am going to call my PCP and ask him for a presc. for 1 month of diet pills, just to help curb my appetite. They did help with that, I just had major sweats, but can handle that for a month. I have to keep my weight steady or even lose a pound or two to make sure I can still have LAP. That is extremely important. So for now, that is all I know. Fingers crossed for me PLEASE...

06/27/2001:     Well I woke up this a.m. with a little better outlook, just knowing that I seriously have to starve myself until surgery. I spent all morning calling every Psychiatrist's office on my insurance co. list, to be told either "can't see until August/Sept."; "they no longer practice here"; "We no longer do that insurance". Finally I found a nice lady at one in Alabaster who did what she could to help. No go with the insurance co. So I begged and asked her how soon if I pay cash? Next Monday, July 2nd! YES! So now to get the paperwork shuffle going. My PCP called me in a presc. for Meridia. Where there's a will, there's a way!

07/01/2001:     Tomorrow I go to the Psychiatrist for my eval. They called Friday to confirm. Told her I couldn't wait. They must think I am crazy. I faxed Dr. Stahl's office on Thursday to ask them to go ahead & get my stuff to the insurance co. & note "Psych eval to follow" & they will get the ball rolling for review for approval process. The Meridia seems to be helping. I did figure out that my weight gain was my cycle, I started yesterday. But, I didn't realize how much I ate because I was hungry all the time. Hopefully this will help me lose a couple of lbs.

07/02/2001:     Went to Psychiatrist today. Went well, I think. He asked me why I decided to do this (Health/Weight), told him about all my research, joining support group, visiting patients in hospital afterwards, pro's & con's of surgery, etc. Wanted to make sure I was aware of life afterwards (diet, etc.) Said OK and should have to my Surgeon tomorrow! YEAH!

07/03/2001:     Suzy called from Dr. Stahl's office at noon & said they were getting my paperwork to Fed-Ex out today. I told her that they Psych eval should be there by the end of the day, so she said they would have it ready & waiting and send it all together at the same time, if that was OK. I told her yes, one day won't make a difference, and that if they did not get it, I would call Thursday (tomorrow's a holiday) and get them to fax it. She said they would Fed-Ex it then, then I can wait on approval. Movin, movin, movin.....Remember Doc told me not to gain any more weight and to even try & lose, well, I have been starving myself & started on the Meridia (God has it helped). I have lost from 340 to 328.5 in one week, tonight. It has been so long since my weight has registered on the scales, I was shock. Gonna keep working on it.

07/05/2001:     Called Psych's office to see if faxed eval to surgeon. Said won't fax, but mailed out Tuesday. (They are 1 block away.) Suzy at Dr. Stahl's office said it did not come today, but I can call tomorrow to see if they got it yet or not. (Note: Susy called me back 4 days in a row after this to let me know it didn't come. Can't ask for much nicer response than that. And she was very nice each time. Thank you Susy.)

07/09/2001:     Faxed the Surgeon's office with instructions on where to send my file, attn: adjuster # so & so, etc. & other helpful info. Susy called me that afternoon to say that they got my Psych Eval in the mail & that my file was complete, packaged certified mail, to go to the post office the next morning. Guess I will wait and give it a few days to arrive & start calling next Monday.

07/16/2001:     Insurance Company says not in the computer yet, takes 8-10 days and once it is in computer, then should be complete shortly after that if all goes well. She told me to call back in week and 1/2. I don't think so. Will call again Friday. If I am not in computer yet, I am calling Surgeon's office to make sure got mailed. I don't have time to waste. I missed my "3rd week of July" deadline, and set another deadline for August 16th. I have to have it then or will be another month because of my work schedule. I have to do something soon, I am getting sicker & sicker every day. My Blood Pressure is up alot (major stress at work), having a lot of trouble breathing, and not eating and trying to lose weight as the Surgeon said is making me weak and dizzy all the time. I have no energy and am wiped out when I walk through the door from work. I have lost 15 lbs as of today though (in about 2 weeks time) and that is good, since it affects me having surgery. (Thank you Meridia). But if I have to go another month or more, I don't know how well I will do physically, which my interfere with my pre-op testing if I am in real bad condition. Please, make this work for me soon!

07/17/2001:     Looking forward to the Birmingham Support Group meeting this Saturday. It is the best bunch of people, learn lots of great stuff, very informative, and I fit in. Can't say that about many things in life these days otherwise. I have made a lot of contact with people since I started this, and I think that is the best thing that has come out of this so far. I have something to offer to others and everyone has jumped at the chance of helping me when I have a question. I really like reading all of the postings at the OSSG website. Check it out. You may too.

07/20/2001:     Well today Sucked! Bad day at work, then I called (AGAIN) to see if the insurance company had received my paperwork from the surgeon's office (they said it was being sent certified 10 days ago) and I am still not in the computer. Said they "had not received it yet", but mixed info says they may have and it just isn't in computer yet, but others say "haven't received, to call Surgeon and have it re-sent". GOD!!!!! So I left a message for Susy to call me & let me know if they actually sent my file, if they got the certified card back yet, SOMETHING. But no return call, and that worries me.... Guess I will call again Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I feel like so much time has been wasted while I get sicker & sicker & sicker. My health is getting worse by the day. Something has to happen soon. I HAVE lost 15 lbs since the consult appt on 06/26, but I am still vomiting every day (sorry) still. I am getting weaker & weaker, especially since I am having to hardly eat to lose & take so much medication. Never ending cycle. The vomiting has been going on for a year now. I am starting to get really worried. My body is suffering from it & my teeth. I can not eat any hard food any more, especially meat. I am eating soup & soft stuff for the last several weeks. At least I will be prepared for the "diet" afterwards. I eat mostly proteins, only a starch once every week or two. Please, let some good news come quickly. I am a very strong-willed person, but today my emotional well-being suffered for the first time. I am very sad for the first time in a very long time. Very emotional right now. Hopefully some sleep will help. Support group meeting tomorrow....

07/21/2001:     Went to support group meeting today. It was so great to see over 80 people there, when they started with 8 in February and about 40 last month. Thank god for bigger facilities. Medical Center East was really nice. I was impressed. I like hearing other people talk about "real" things, as we all can usually identify in some way. I am still down, and I don't know how to act, cuz I am NEVER down. Especially two days in a row. But, frustration seems to be a big part of the entire process, so I guess I am getting my share. Hopefully things will look up this next week. Please, please, please.... Let me get some good news soon.

07/25/2001:     As of yesterday, I am still not in computer system at insurance company, but after telling them that surgeon's office got card back showing they signed for my records/request on 07/16, the customer service girl checked the examiner's desk that it would be assigned to, and said it was there, "next for review", 8-10 more days.... So I will call again on Friday, 3 days later. I NEED approval SOON. Well, out of my slump. Work has been overly stressful and I think it is all taking it's toll on me. If I had a normal job, I would feel better, but that will come too, later after this surgery. And as soon as I am physically able, I will make another great change in my life. The WLS surgery is the first step. Baby steps, right?

07/27/2001:     VERBAL APPROVAL FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY!!! YES! 8-10 days for the letter by mail, they said I could call back in a few days to try & get letter faxed so I can get a surgery date. Thanks to all who cross their fingers for me. Keeping my crossed trying to get in August 20th. Gotta keep pushing till I am there! P.S. I haven't thrown up all week. Got off the protien diet & it appears that was lot of my problem. Eating more normal, just smaller amounts, can't stick completely to meats, makes me sick. Trying not to gain wait, but PMS'ing right now. Smile everyone!

07/30/2001:     AMAZING! Suzy called me from Dr. Stahl's office to tell me they got my approval letter today. WOW! I hadn't even called to try and get it faxed yet! I HAVE A DATE! AUGUST 21st AT 7:00 A.M. I have to be there earlier obviously. Pre-Op testing on August 14th. Had not really worried about "getting ready" until I was sure. Got alot to do. Thanks to everyone!

MY SURGERY WAS AUGUST 21ST AT 7:00 A.M. - SHELBY BAPTIST IN ALABASTER.

08/05/2001:     Went to the Friday night support group meeting. It is so nice to see everyone & meet new people going through the same thing. I am keeping the 15 lbs. off, but every scale I get on shows differently shows me different. As long as I keep trying and don't gain, that is all that counts. I am actually getting a little excited, starting to prepare, but only a little. After pre-op testing I'm sure I will feel it more. I don't tend to get excited about much. I am looking forward to this though. An end to the sickness & misery that I have come to feel everyday for the last year or so. Even the complications and eating changes don't seem to bad to me (unless they are major), since I have been so sick, the thought of getting sick afterwards doesn't bother me. I have found that I can control my eating (with diet pills), so all I need is the surgery to help me shed these pounds. I feel confident that I can overcome anything that is to come, as I always have been able to do so in the past.

08/11/2001:     Such a rough week at work. I am still starving myself and am keeping the 15 lbs. off. I wanted to have one last thing before I have surgery, Alfredo sauce with Breadsticks from Olive Garden. I know because it is so fatty that I will not be able to have anything like that again/long time. I don't crave much. I am literally hungry all the time. My stomach growls & hurts, but I have to keep this going until surgery. I don't have much energy, I figure my body may be in ketosis, so I am taking it easy right now. I need to stay in ketosis to keep my liver size down for surgery. I may splurge tomorrow or Monday to eat something good (but small portion). But believe it or not, otherwise I do feel good. Not as miserable feeling, if I can keep from being sick everyday. I have that down to a couple days a week. I am not sleeping though, at all, and it is hard to make it through the day right now. I have my days & nights mixed up, and that doesn't work well with having a day job. I have pre-op testing on Tuesday & will hopefully get to ask questions of the nurse practitioner, if she is not in surgery with the doc, they said. If not, I will wing it. I have enough info to do fine as it is. I have my wonderful list of things I need to get ready, thanks to the "preparation" list we got from our support group back in June. I also have picked up a few great tips from reading the OSSG postings, so I will be making my combined list of the two so I can get ready. Only a week and 1/2 away. It used to seem so far away, now it is so close. I am not nervous, I am ready for this. If I get nervous, it won't be a scared nervous, just a "the big moment is here" nervous, like you get for any much awaited special occasion. My family is coming up from Florida. I asked them not to, did not feel it was necessary, because they have their own lives and it will cost them a lot of money (I don't have any room at my apartment), but they insist & so I will appreciate everything they do. My hubby will be off (he is such a wonderful man) & my child, well, he will be in school, keeping busy. I figure that is best. He doesn't need to be sitting around a crampy boring old hospital. Tommy will bring him after school & take him home at night to get him in bed & up and back to school each morning. You know, I forgot about that part. I forgot I won't be here to do that, because I always have been. Not used to being somewhere other than home. And during the time that Tommy is at home with him at night, I guess I will be thankful that I have my family there with me. They are talking about "taking shifts". I have an Angel, Denise Copeland. She has been so great. She contacted me within hours, the first night I signed up with AMOS & was so new, not knowing anything at all. She told me about the support group that weekend, and has been a friend all of the way through. I am so excited for her too. She will be having surgery one week after me, same hospital, and I will be her Angel. Talk about having to get better quick. I have not done the "legal" paperwork yet. I intend to, just don't know where to start. I am sure that I will wait until the last minute on that, and will be lucky if I get it done. I am so proud of the fact that my son said that if anything happened to me in this surgery (we were having that one serious conversation), that he wants to stay with Tommy instead of going back to Pensacola to live with Granny or anyone else. They are great buddies, and I am truly thankful that they get along so well. Like two brothers. David really admires & looks up to Tommy. It is so funny, he sits and waits for him to come home from work, whining if he is at all late.

08/15/2001:     Nurse (Diane) called me from Dr. Stahl's office to go over pre-surgery stuff. She was very complimentary of my weight loss (20 lbs.) & assured me that the are still planning on doing the LAP, and the weight loss helped that. Thank God. I have to do bowel prep on Monday (Yeah) and clear liquids after 8/9 a.m. & be at hospital at 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday. I asked about the liver size/LAP/ketosis stuff I had heard & she said she had never heard that. Not to worry, not to over starve myself (throw my electrolytes off before surgery), so I am going to eat a little more normal, but still cut back dramatically on starches. I don't eat sugar, so that is not an issue. I may gain a lb. or two, that does not worry me too much, as I will not gorge, and will do my best to maintain where I am at now. I have tons to do, know I will not get it all done, so will do what I can, and oh well, the rest... It will still be here afterwards. I am stressing today, think I am really tired, emotionally drained from dealing with family & work & surgery & the first day of school for my child, etc. Not nervous so much, just tired. Still not getting any sleep. Sure that is adding to my stress. Wish I could just sleep for a day, but then I would be further behind. Guess I will sleep during surgery & at the hospital, so that will be my rest.

08/21/2001:     SURGERY DAY!     Hardly slept all night, got to Shelby Surgical Center at 5:15 a.m. like I was told. All my family was there, everyone dead tired. I was excited though. Not scared, not worried, but still excited. Even the chaplain said "You're too bubbly to be going into surgery". I was laughing and joking, having a good time, even with the nurses. They had me change clothes, nice having a hospital gown bigger than me for once. Everyone was fantastically nice and I was at ease. They put the IV in, did last minute blood tests, taped my inhaler to my chart & off we went to the operating room. Stahl came in to check everything (looks nice in regular casual-dress clothes) and off he went to get ready. They did not start until 7:30, 1/2 hour late, and surgery lasted just under 3 hours they said. I could not wake up after the surgery. I was out of it. All day! I heard them say 6 incisions, and I said "Thank You" and went back to sleep. I was so happy to know I was not cut open. I woke up on oxygen, a morphine pump, a catheter, IV and electrode things on my front & back. I drifted in & out, but heard family talking, but could hardly raise my hand or smile. My darling hubby held it all day. He is always such a comfort. I did not have any pain that I can remember. They took the catheter out around 4 p.m. & said I'd have to get up & try & potty soon. At 6:00 p.m. they came in & I was still sleeping, made me get up & try. Couldn't, so I went back to bed, try again in a couple of hours. A couple of hours later, they wake me up, time to try again. Nope, still won't work. Now they start getting serious. If I can't go in the next hour or two, got to do something. Meantime, my body is swelling hugely, arms, legs, everything. They are pumping major bags of liquid in me & nothing is coming out. So at midnight, they call the surgeon (Dr. Sherer) & get permission to give me 20 mg of Lasex. Hours later, still nothing. Needless to say, up & down all night. So lucky me, at 2 a.m., gets catheterized again. Actually, didn't bother me as bad as the feeling I was fixing to pop. They did two kidney scans during this time to see if any fluids in my kidneys. The first time, no, then after the Lasex, yes. But the catheter worked, and swelling started to go down the next day. The second day, I got up at 6:00 a.m. and stayed up till 9:30 that night. The only time I needed pain meds was for my Fibromyalgia. It was killing me in my upper back, laying like that for surgery & in the hospital on all those hoses, etc. After I got up & around, that got somewhat better. They agreed to take me off the oxygen the next day (I heard them say they were going to put me in ICU when I was in recovery, but they didn't for some reason), and when my IV hand doubled/tripled in size and started having major pains up my arm the second night, they took the IV out. I had to stay catheterized the whole hospital stay, but other than not being able to turn in bed to sleep comfortably, no big deal. The second morning, Dr. Sherer was on duty. Came in and said they would do my leak test sometime. It took them till 1:00 in afternoon to come get me. God, the dry mouth was the worst! They took me in, left me standing up too long, I got real weak. The "cold medicine tasting stuff" they gave me to drink made me sick, then when they move the table up & down, that was all she wrote. I held on as long as I could, till they gave me a little pan to get sick in. Boy, that was painful. But, they had me some ice chips as soon as I got back up to my floor & they were the best thing ever. Only 60cc (1 oz) every two hours, so had to stretch it out. I got out at 10:00 a.m. on the 3rd day. Got up, took my shower, washed my hair, got dressed & told Doc Stahl I was ready to go when he came in. He smiled, checked my incisions, said stay on liquids for a week & come back to see him the next Friday (8 days). I have to say that the nursing staff was the best I had ever seen. They were friendly, always had a smile, prompt to respond & just plain "great". My hat is off to them. I was in room 227 (private) on the 2nd floor. Apparently the staff on other floors and other rooms on the same floor are not as great. I was really blessed. Thank you to my wonderful hubby, I love you baby. Thank you to my crazy family who came up (out of their way) to be with me, and to my angel, Denise, who updated the group and my surgery page, visited & called & was so sweet to me. I appreciated every bit of it.