Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Easter Sunday photo
Monday, April 25, 2011
My story (posted on ObesityHelp.com) - UPDATED!
Hi y'all! My name is Debi and I have a HOLD on a surgery date!!
I have been married to my wonderful husband for 8 years. We have 2 brilliant and beautiful children, a 6 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. I decided to use the username "SqueezyMama" because my son has always described thin people as being "Squeezy" :) I asked him this week how he would feel if Mama had a surgery to make her "squeezy" and he said he wanted me to, even though he would miss me when I was in the hospital (awww!) - he is so sweet!
Here's a little about my family history with WLS:
BOTH of my siblings (sisters) have had LapBand surgery. 2 of my female cousins have had LapBand. 1 of my male cousins has had Gastric Bypass.
My older sister was the pioneer in our family, being the first to have WLS. She was very successful....almost made it to her goal when she got pregnant with my nephew. She is currently working back to her goal.
My younger sister has had a slower process due to losing her health insurance....so she was unable to get a fill for a long time. She now has insurance and is working toward her goal.
My 2 LapBand cousins have had a harder struggle with the LapBand.
My 1 GB cousin has been so successful with GB that he actually had to gain some weight back because he had lost too much!
Here is MY history with WLS:
February 2, 2011 - First appointment with Dr. David Miles' office - met with PA & was told I was a good candidate for WLS (weighed 307 lbs. at this appointment - my highest ever was 316 lbs.)
February 2, 2011 - First WLS Support Group meeting (meets 1st Wednesday of each month)
March 2, 2011 - Second WLS Support Group meeting
March 9, 2011 - Second appointment with Dr. Miles' office - Information session on WLS types with PA (306 - lost 1 lb)
at this point I had decided that I would prefer to get the LapBand, so I need to meet the surgeon before they schedule an endoscopy
March 12, 2011 - First nutrition class (scale said 310, but I will be going by surgeon's scale)
March 22, 2011 - Psychological Evaluation - session 1
March 24, 2011 - Psychological Evaluation - session 2 - approved!
April 7, 2011 - Third appointment with Dr. Miles' office - Met Dr. Miles himself and discussed LapBand or GB(ReY). He gave me some information that I had not heard before and at this point, I went back to square one in my decision-making process.
(297 lbs - lost 10 lbs since February!)
April 11, 2011 - Got the phone call from Dr. Miles' office that my Endoscopy is scheduled for May 6. If I choose to go the GB route, then I can cancel that appointment before it happens.
April 11, 2011 - Attended different WLS Support Group meeting due to a schedule conflict (meets 2nd Monday of each month)
April 23, 2011 - Second Nutrition Class - Lost 14 pounds in the past 6 weeks since the last class!
April 27, 2011 - Gallbladder Ultrsound and bloodwork
May 2, 2011 - Sleep Study
1 more appointment with the surgeon
July 5, 2011 - I have a HOLD on this date as my SURGERY DAY!!
That is it for now! This website and the support groups I have been to have really helped me to make the decision to go with the Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y). I look forward to sharing this journey with others!
Check out my BLOG! (Yes, I can't believe it either, but I started one!)
www.squeezymama.blogspot.com
I have been married to my wonderful husband for 8 years. We have 2 brilliant and beautiful children, a 6 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. I decided to use the username "SqueezyMama" because my son has always described thin people as being "Squeezy" :) I asked him this week how he would feel if Mama had a surgery to make her "squeezy" and he said he wanted me to, even though he would miss me when I was in the hospital (awww!) - he is so sweet!
Here's a little about my family history with WLS:
BOTH of my siblings (sisters) have had LapBand surgery. 2 of my female cousins have had LapBand. 1 of my male cousins has had Gastric Bypass.
My older sister was the pioneer in our family, being the first to have WLS. She was very successful....almost made it to her goal when she got pregnant with my nephew. She is currently working back to her goal.
My younger sister has had a slower process due to losing her health insurance....so she was unable to get a fill for a long time. She now has insurance and is working toward her goal.
My 2 LapBand cousins have had a harder struggle with the LapBand.
My 1 GB cousin has been so successful with GB that he actually had to gain some weight back because he had lost too much!
Here is MY history with WLS:
February 2, 2011 - First appointment with Dr. David Miles' office - met with PA & was told I was a good candidate for WLS (weighed 307 lbs. at this appointment - my highest ever was 316 lbs.)
February 2, 2011 - First WLS Support Group meeting (meets 1st Wednesday of each month)
March 2, 2011 - Second WLS Support Group meeting
March 9, 2011 - Second appointment with Dr. Miles' office - Information session on WLS types with PA (306 - lost 1 lb)
at this point I had decided that I would prefer to get the LapBand, so I need to meet the surgeon before they schedule an endoscopy
March 12, 2011 - First nutrition class (scale said 310, but I will be going by surgeon's scale)
March 22, 2011 - Psychological Evaluation - session 1
March 24, 2011 - Psychological Evaluation - session 2 - approved!
April 7, 2011 - Third appointment with Dr. Miles' office - Met Dr. Miles himself and discussed LapBand or GB(ReY). He gave me some information that I had not heard before and at this point, I went back to square one in my decision-making process.
(297 lbs - lost 10 lbs since February!)
April 11, 2011 - Got the phone call from Dr. Miles' office that my Endoscopy is scheduled for May 6. If I choose to go the GB route, then I can cancel that appointment before it happens.
April 11, 2011 - Attended different WLS Support Group meeting due to a schedule conflict (meets 2nd Monday of each month)
April 23, 2011 - Second Nutrition Class - Lost 14 pounds in the past 6 weeks since the last class!
April 27, 2011 - Gallbladder Ultrsound and bloodwork
May 2, 2011 - Sleep Study
1 more appointment with the surgeon
July 5, 2011 - I have a HOLD on this date as my SURGERY DAY!!
That is it for now! This website and the support groups I have been to have really helped me to make the decision to go with the Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y). I look forward to sharing this journey with others!
Check out my BLOG! (Yes, I can't believe it either, but I started one!)
www.squeezymama.blogspot.com
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Taste Tests
I plan to update this blog entry as I try new items.... To try to keep track of what I do and do not enjoy.
Today, I tried one of the items that Paul from GNC gave me to try the other day. I tried the GNC Total Lean brand Lean Shake in Vanilla Bean flavor. Wow! It was extremely tasty, and something that I would like to try in more flavors! The stats on this shake are:
Calories- 170
Total Fat- 6
Carbohydrates- 6
Sugars- 2
Proteins- 25
I also started taking the multivitamin that I purchased a few days ago. The first time I took it, I made the mistake of taking it without food.... and it left a chalky taste in my mouth and a weird taste for a long time. The next day I actually read the label, and it said to take it with food....silly me! I took it right at the beginning of my meal, and while the flavor (berry) did not really go with my meal, after a few bites of food, the chalky berry taste was gone and I did not have to deal with any weird aftertaste. I may have to consider a liquid multivitamin (if possible) for during my liquid phase. I may need to return this multivitamin to GNC and try something different. Thanks to their open return policy I know that I can do that! :)
4/27/11 - Today I got a few Bariatric Advantage calcium chews to try from Medical Center Pharmacy on 16th St. - Today I tried the Raspberry. It was okay, but not something I think I would want to eat every day. I also got a Lemon and a Chocolate to try. I will be trying the out soon.
Today, I tried one of the items that Paul from GNC gave me to try the other day. I tried the GNC Total Lean brand Lean Shake in Vanilla Bean flavor. Wow! It was extremely tasty, and something that I would like to try in more flavors! The stats on this shake are:
Calories- 170
Total Fat- 6
Carbohydrates- 6
Sugars- 2
Proteins- 25
I also started taking the multivitamin that I purchased a few days ago. The first time I took it, I made the mistake of taking it without food.... and it left a chalky taste in my mouth and a weird taste for a long time. The next day I actually read the label, and it said to take it with food....silly me! I took it right at the beginning of my meal, and while the flavor (berry) did not really go with my meal, after a few bites of food, the chalky berry taste was gone and I did not have to deal with any weird aftertaste. I may have to consider a liquid multivitamin (if possible) for during my liquid phase. I may need to return this multivitamin to GNC and try something different. Thanks to their open return policy I know that I can do that! :)
4/27/11 - Today I got a few Bariatric Advantage calcium chews to try from Medical Center Pharmacy on 16th St. - Today I tried the Raspberry. It was okay, but not something I think I would want to eat every day. I also got a Lemon and a Chocolate to try. I will be trying the out soon.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
GNC experience
I have to be honest. I have been very concerned about the supplements that I will need to take after having Weight Loss Surgery. Today changed my whole viewpoint on this concern.
I have been to a few WLS Support Group meetings, and they all recommended that I go to GNC at Mayfaire Towncentre in Wilmington, NC (where I live). I have been putting this off for weeks..... but I finally did it, and boy am I glad I did!!
I went in and told the young man working there that I was going to have Gastric Bypass surgery, he immediately asked me to wait while he went to get the owner. (I think he was the owner...if not, then he was most definitely the manager). An older gentleman came out of the back room with a young girl that he was training and he came right up and introduced himself as Paul. Paul proceeded to walk me around the store and show me the different protein drinks, vitamins and other options for the different post-op stages. He was incredibly knowledgeable on the needs of people that are undergoing this surgery. He knew exactly what I needed, and even explained how I could change from one protein form to another as I progress through the post-op stages. He showed me the nutrition labels of everything, and explained why I needed to stay away from some products, or why other products will not give me what I need. At no point did I feel like he was trying to convince me that other products were no good and that I only should buy from GNC - which is one of the things I was really worried about before I went in.
A few things that he told me that impressed me about GNC were 1) that all of their products are shipped in refrigerated trucks (good for when it starts getting crazy hot around here!) and 2) that if I try a product for a week and I find it not palatable or it just doesn't work for me, I can return it opened and partially used and get a FULL refund!
During our discussion, he asked me which surgeon I was seeing, and when I told him Dr. Miles, he informed me that he gives a Gold Card membership to Dr. Miles' patients ($15 anual fee) for FREE! The Gold Card allows for members to get 20% off during the first 7 days of each month. It also puts me on a mailing list to get their catalog in the mail to let me know what is on sale that month. Paul also gave me free full sized samples of a protein sports drink, a protein shake, and a high protein beef jerky!!
All in all, I had a wonderful experience at GNC, and Paul is an incredibly informed man that I look forward to purchasing from in the future!!
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Thursday, April 14, 2011
Researching
I have spent hours and hours (too many to even count) doing research on my surgical options and payment arrangements after our discussion with the surgeon. Now I feel confident about my decision and am looking forward to the next steps!
I have decided to go with the laproscopic Gastric Bypass (otherwise known as Roux-en-Y or RNY).
I am hoping to be able to have the surgery at the beginning of July for a couple reasons:
1. As a teacher, I have summers off, so I will have time to heal before going back to work and I will not have to take any time off to have the sugery or recuperate.
2. July 1 starts a new fiscal year, which means health insurance premiums and coinsurance restart. If I have the surgery at the beginning of the year, whatever I have the rest of the year will be free!
I only have a few more things to complete before I can have the surgery.
1. I have my second nutrition class on April 23.
2. I have to have a gallbladder ultrasound and bloodwork.
3. I need to meet with surgeon, take a written test, and then they will schedule my surgery!! Yay!
I am super excited to be on the path to becoming a "Squeezy Mama!!!"
I have decided to go with the laproscopic Gastric Bypass (otherwise known as Roux-en-Y or RNY).
I am hoping to be able to have the surgery at the beginning of July for a couple reasons:
1. As a teacher, I have summers off, so I will have time to heal before going back to work and I will not have to take any time off to have the sugery or recuperate.
2. July 1 starts a new fiscal year, which means health insurance premiums and coinsurance restart. If I have the surgery at the beginning of the year, whatever I have the rest of the year will be free!
I only have a few more things to complete before I can have the surgery.
1. I have my second nutrition class on April 23.
2. I have to have a gallbladder ultrasound and bloodwork.
3. I need to meet with surgeon, take a written test, and then they will schedule my surgery!! Yay!
I am super excited to be on the path to becoming a "Squeezy Mama!!!"
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Family History and Decision-Making Process
I have not been obese my whole life.....when I was a child I was "squeezy" and then I hit puberty! Puberty and hormones really did a number on me! In middle school wsa when I realized I was bigger than the other kids, and the other kids made sure that I knew it! Kids can be cruel. This I already knew. My mother had been overweight my whole life and even before I hit puberty kids would make fun of my mom for being obese. Kids do not realize how much those words hurt....and how long they stay with you.
My family is big. My husband refers to my family as being like that family in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" - except mine is a big, loud, noisy, Italian family. The mother in that movie actually looks a LOT like my mom (even the bathrobe she wears I think my mom has). I have a very large extended family, and my cousins are more like brothers and sisters than cousins. The majority of my family is overweight and obese, and 5 of my relatives have had weight loss surgery of some type.
In my last post, I mentioned that not only is family genetics a factor in the obesity in my family, but our family's eating. For example: my grandmother was a diabetic and a sugar-hoarder. We have a picture that we took when we found her "stash" of sugary treats......they were packed in her never-used oven! My mother now has diabetes, both of my parents have high blood pressure and all of my grandparents and an uncle have all died of heart-related problems. My older sister had surgery to correct a heart problem in her early 20s. This STRONG family history of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems make me worried every day about whether or not I will live to see my children graduate, get married and have their own children.
Last year I was dedicated to losing weight without surgery. I went on Weight Watchers and I watched 40 pounds disappear. Then, I stopped losing weight. No matter what I did, I never lost another pound. Then I got frustrated and stressed out and I ended up gaining almost all of it back again! Ugh! I was so disgusted with myself. It was then that I realized that my problem was so much bigger than willpower....I was hungry all the time.....and I could not tell if it was stomach hunger or head hunger, I just knew I was hungry!
So, for the past many months, I have done research on the different types of weight loss surgery. At first, I was pretty set on having the Lap-Band surgery. BOTH of my sisters have had this type of weight loss surgery (WLS) and have seen success. Two of my cousins have had it and have not had as much success, but have lost some weight. One of my other cousins had Gastric Bypass (GB) surgery and has lost all of his excess weight and kept it off (within about 20 lbs up and down) for several years now. I had all my reasons all lined up when I went in to talk to the surgeon about having the Lap-Band (LB) surgery, but he brought up some statistics and other issues that I was unaware of, even with all of the research that I had done.
1. The risk of complications with GB lower the further out from surgery you are. Once you get past 6 months out from surgery the complication rates drops to almost 0%. The risks of complications from LB surgery raise the farther out from surgery you are, so the likelihood of having to have another surgery to correct, repair, or remove the LB are pretty high.
2. People who have GB lose more weight and keep it off at a higher rate than people who have LB.
3. If, for some medical reason, you need to have GB reversed, it is possible. They do not remove any part of your interior, they just change the way things are routed. This was one of my biggest concerns going in, that at some point in the future I might have a medical problem that the GB would cause problems for. But now that concern is gone.
4. I was concerned with the morbidity rate being higher for GB than LB, but this surgeon has a morbidity rate of 0% - he has never lost a patient.....I like those odds!!
So, now on to more research and decision-making!!!
My family is big. My husband refers to my family as being like that family in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" - except mine is a big, loud, noisy, Italian family. The mother in that movie actually looks a LOT like my mom (even the bathrobe she wears I think my mom has). I have a very large extended family, and my cousins are more like brothers and sisters than cousins. The majority of my family is overweight and obese, and 5 of my relatives have had weight loss surgery of some type.
In my last post, I mentioned that not only is family genetics a factor in the obesity in my family, but our family's eating. For example: my grandmother was a diabetic and a sugar-hoarder. We have a picture that we took when we found her "stash" of sugary treats......they were packed in her never-used oven! My mother now has diabetes, both of my parents have high blood pressure and all of my grandparents and an uncle have all died of heart-related problems. My older sister had surgery to correct a heart problem in her early 20s. This STRONG family history of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems make me worried every day about whether or not I will live to see my children graduate, get married and have their own children.
Last year I was dedicated to losing weight without surgery. I went on Weight Watchers and I watched 40 pounds disappear. Then, I stopped losing weight. No matter what I did, I never lost another pound. Then I got frustrated and stressed out and I ended up gaining almost all of it back again! Ugh! I was so disgusted with myself. It was then that I realized that my problem was so much bigger than willpower....I was hungry all the time.....and I could not tell if it was stomach hunger or head hunger, I just knew I was hungry!
So, for the past many months, I have done research on the different types of weight loss surgery. At first, I was pretty set on having the Lap-Band surgery. BOTH of my sisters have had this type of weight loss surgery (WLS) and have seen success. Two of my cousins have had it and have not had as much success, but have lost some weight. One of my other cousins had Gastric Bypass (GB) surgery and has lost all of his excess weight and kept it off (within about 20 lbs up and down) for several years now. I had all my reasons all lined up when I went in to talk to the surgeon about having the Lap-Band (LB) surgery, but he brought up some statistics and other issues that I was unaware of, even with all of the research that I had done.
1. The risk of complications with GB lower the further out from surgery you are. Once you get past 6 months out from surgery the complication rates drops to almost 0%. The risks of complications from LB surgery raise the farther out from surgery you are, so the likelihood of having to have another surgery to correct, repair, or remove the LB are pretty high.
2. People who have GB lose more weight and keep it off at a higher rate than people who have LB.
3. If, for some medical reason, you need to have GB reversed, it is possible. They do not remove any part of your interior, they just change the way things are routed. This was one of my biggest concerns going in, that at some point in the future I might have a medical problem that the GB would cause problems for. But now that concern is gone.
4. I was concerned with the morbidity rate being higher for GB than LB, but this surgeon has a morbidity rate of 0% - he has never lost a patient.....I like those odds!!
So, now on to more research and decision-making!!!
Monday, April 11, 2011
What does SqueezyMama mean??
From the time my son (now 6 years old) was talking, he described things that were thin as "squeezy". He has, on occasion, asked me why I am not "squeezy" like other people.
I have been overweight ever since I hit puberty, a trait that I do not want to pass on to my son or daughter (2 years old). I have tried so many different diets and lifestyle changes, but it seems like I can only ever lose a little, then I gain back more than I lost. It is a terribly frustrating experience to have over and over and over again. People who are naturally "squeezy" don't seem to understand how difficult genetics are to overcome....not just the family history of obesity, but the family history of eating.
So, for the past many months, I have done research on the different types of weight loss surgery (WLS) and I have decided for sure that I need to do something as drastic as WLS to fix my problem.
I am so excited to be on the path to becoming a "Squeezy Mama" for my kids!!! :)
I have been overweight ever since I hit puberty, a trait that I do not want to pass on to my son or daughter (2 years old). I have tried so many different diets and lifestyle changes, but it seems like I can only ever lose a little, then I gain back more than I lost. It is a terribly frustrating experience to have over and over and over again. People who are naturally "squeezy" don't seem to understand how difficult genetics are to overcome....not just the family history of obesity, but the family history of eating.
So, for the past many months, I have done research on the different types of weight loss surgery (WLS) and I have decided for sure that I need to do something as drastic as WLS to fix my problem.
I am so excited to be on the path to becoming a "Squeezy Mama" for my kids!!! :)
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