Hello Az

 Hello az I not sure I posted here a few months ago. I did on the other main board. Just to recap - I had gastric bypass by Dr. Daniel Fang at St Lukes. I started at 339 lbs at the time of surgery March 20, 2007. I was not allowed to walk or exercise at all for I had aortic stanosis, which is a thickening of the aortic valve. After loosing 88 lbs I had to have the valve replaced march 20, 2008 the a pacemaker inserted shortly after that. Well I have hit my 100 lbs now just have 89 lbs to goal but I'm having a terrible time getting past this stand still. I have been in cardiac rehab which has helped with a pound or two but cant seem to get past this. I am at 245 - 250 which was my normal weight for many of my adult years so I'm not sure this might have something to do with it. I am in need for some new friends here in az. I live in Peoria.

I haven't had the surgery yet, but I just want to take the time to welcome you aboard.  I don't have lots of advice or experience yet, but am willing to be a listening ear!

 

Samantha

 Thank you for responding. When is your surgery? I wish you the best. My surgery went very well. I just got sick of eating pudding, jello and broth for 8 weeks. It was just to be for 6 wks but I missed my first post op appt  so they kept me on the liquids for another 2 weeks. But Im past all that now by a year and 6 months. So maybe I can be part of your support. Im in Peoria az. Once again good luck.

No date for my surgery yet.  I am hoping around the 1st part of April!!! Doing all the pre-op stuff now including a 6 month medically supervised diet. (which i am not doing so hot at yet ) The good news is that the ins company I am using doesn't require to much!

I know that feeling. I actually had 2 drs charting my supervised diet. They would say well see ya in 3 months and I would say oh no I'll see you in a month until these 6 months are over lol. dont lose faith it will happen. Have you had you physic eval yet? If not I would strongly advise you to get that started. The one I had to take was a 3 hr test one day then an eval in a week after by the dr. Are you going thru the biatric center at St. Lukes? It seems forever but the day will come for you. I have not regreted one day of it.

I have not had the psych eval yet.  I am thinking that I will get that scheduled around the end of December or  1st part of January.  You see, my current insurance won't cover any part of this, though I wonder if they would cover the psych.  I guess it would depend on the coding.  I am going through the bariatric program at Banner Gateway.  My hospital has just merged with them, but the benefits don't start til 1-1-9.  Being that my insurance is through banner I must use a banner facility.  That leaves me with Good Sam or Gateway.  It is different group of doctors that operate at both.  I am not impressed with Dr. Fang's office (my brother just had a bypass with him in July.), so I am going with the alternate group at Gateway.  So as you can see I am barely on this road, but I am on it all the sme.  I have been gathering records to show a history, am doing the 6 month diet, going to the OH event tomorrow, going to my 1st support group meeting the following weekend, and then will do the psych eval after that.  In February/March I go in to see the surgeon with a referral and a letter from my PCP and I think I will have most everything ready.  I don't have sleep apnea (or don't think so, as I don't snore), I have the begining of some high bp but not on meds,  and a few signs of possible pre-diabetes but no dx.  So there isn't much for me to do. My goal is that I hand them everything and they submit it right away.  Hopefully, I will get the approval and then...go off for all the pre-op basics w/the nut, chest x-ray, ekg, ect....That is my goal and if it works out there is no reason that I won't have surgery by the first part of April.  The big hitch to all of this is that I will have a $5000 co-pay.  I plan to use income tax to cover about $3500 and then I am saving for the balance!  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers that this all happens according to my plan!

Chathot, are you able to get out of the house and to a support group meeting?  We have our West Valley support group that meets at Banner Estrella at the 101 & Thomas Road the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month (next week is our meeting) at 10:30 a.m.  You are very welcome to come and join us.  We are a very friendly group and I'm sure we'll all be your friends.

Motivated, why don't you stop in too.  We love having pre-ops there and I think we have some of Dr. Fang's patients in our group.

Hi my name is Candy and I saw your story at the confrence yesterday. I was the one who asked you to repeat your meeting days and time. I am so very happy to find a support group on this side of town. I am really needing the support to keep on program. It was so fun to be with others just like me and what I'm going thru. I will deff mark my calendar for those sat at 10:30. I forgot what confrence room it was that you said. But I will be there for sure. Thank you so much

Hey Candy, it was nice to meet you from far away yesterday.  I hope to see you at the meeting.  We really are a wonderful group of caring people.  I almost broke into tears explaining why yesterday.  I couldn't ask for a better group of people.  That's the great part of a support group.