iserene17
hmmm...
Dec 01, 2010
i haven't been here in such a long time!
i'm still with the boyfriend i kicked to the curb a while back, and got a new job. i am now the assistant worker's comp claims manager at a small insurance company and tomorrow is my 2 year anniversary with the sparklyman, the love of my life. life is good.
i just came back from the dr - i'd had to wear a holter monitor for 24 hours to see if everything was ok because i was feeling dizzy and my hands were tingling. after having 2 heart attacks and a stroke, my doc was taking no chances. however --- all is well - i was simply... SICK. i had a stomach virus which i have now kicked. as an added bonus, my doctor let me know that my a1c is 5.6, my iron is great, my cholesterol is still a little high (235), but everything else is fantastic.
i weigh 174 lbs, 1 1/2 years out. eating is no big deal - i eat whatever i want, although i now want much less. i usually stick to fish and chicken, and rarely eat breads, potatoes, noodles or rice, although i can, if i want. breakfast is usually a small cup of coffee, scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. i can't eat more than one egg and 2 slices of bacon at one time, and i rarely finish the coffee. i take it black with sugar - no milk. lunch is usually veggies and chicken or shrimp, but again, i rarely finish it. dinner is whatever the kids and man want - i just eat whatever of it that i want. i don't do mcd's, pizza or popeyes - but i do eat thai, mexican and chinese takeout. they know me, and make small portions for me.
i wear a comfortable size 10, although i still sometimes need a 12 when the cut is close. i have no skin issues. most of you will hate me for saying this, but i NEVER exercise. my prior cardiac issues prohibit a lot of strenuous activity, but i do walk quite a bit. losing weight has been easy for me, because i never was a true foodie. i sometimes forget to eat because i'm really not hungry. then when i DO get hungry i CAN'T overeat. bliss, right?
at 50, i feel younger than ever. i wear high heels often, and my skin looks great (no makeup here). i use goat milk soap and neutrogena sesame oil for softness and moisture, then use burt's bees products on my face. i get my nails and eyebrows done every 2 weeks, and that's it.
everyone asks me what i do, what my regimen is. i've just told y'all - plus i drink mostly water. no juices or sodas - too sweet. but i do still love a nice glass of wine at night - but i've become such a lightweight... that nice glass has shrunk a bit...
love has a lot to do with it as well. love from my kids, love from my man, love of my job, love of MYSELF.
VSG helped me accomplish all this. I thank GOD for Dr. Mitchell Roslin every day.
i'd like to get down to 150 lbs, but if i never do, it's ok. as long as i'm healthy. and now, i AM, both inside and out.
until next time...
0 comments
i'm still with the boyfriend i kicked to the curb a while back, and got a new job. i am now the assistant worker's comp claims manager at a small insurance company and tomorrow is my 2 year anniversary with the sparklyman, the love of my life. life is good.
i just came back from the dr - i'd had to wear a holter monitor for 24 hours to see if everything was ok because i was feeling dizzy and my hands were tingling. after having 2 heart attacks and a stroke, my doc was taking no chances. however --- all is well - i was simply... SICK. i had a stomach virus which i have now kicked. as an added bonus, my doctor let me know that my a1c is 5.6, my iron is great, my cholesterol is still a little high (235), but everything else is fantastic.
i weigh 174 lbs, 1 1/2 years out. eating is no big deal - i eat whatever i want, although i now want much less. i usually stick to fish and chicken, and rarely eat breads, potatoes, noodles or rice, although i can, if i want. breakfast is usually a small cup of coffee, scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. i can't eat more than one egg and 2 slices of bacon at one time, and i rarely finish the coffee. i take it black with sugar - no milk. lunch is usually veggies and chicken or shrimp, but again, i rarely finish it. dinner is whatever the kids and man want - i just eat whatever of it that i want. i don't do mcd's, pizza or popeyes - but i do eat thai, mexican and chinese takeout. they know me, and make small portions for me.
i wear a comfortable size 10, although i still sometimes need a 12 when the cut is close. i have no skin issues. most of you will hate me for saying this, but i NEVER exercise. my prior cardiac issues prohibit a lot of strenuous activity, but i do walk quite a bit. losing weight has been easy for me, because i never was a true foodie. i sometimes forget to eat because i'm really not hungry. then when i DO get hungry i CAN'T overeat. bliss, right?
at 50, i feel younger than ever. i wear high heels often, and my skin looks great (no makeup here). i use goat milk soap and neutrogena sesame oil for softness and moisture, then use burt's bees products on my face. i get my nails and eyebrows done every 2 weeks, and that's it.
everyone asks me what i do, what my regimen is. i've just told y'all - plus i drink mostly water. no juices or sodas - too sweet. but i do still love a nice glass of wine at night - but i've become such a lightweight... that nice glass has shrunk a bit...
love has a lot to do with it as well. love from my kids, love from my man, love of my job, love of MYSELF.
VSG helped me accomplish all this. I thank GOD for Dr. Mitchell Roslin every day.
i'd like to get down to 150 lbs, but if i never do, it's ok. as long as i'm healthy. and now, i AM, both inside and out.
until next time...
getting closer...
May 23, 2008
next week, 5/28, i'm scheduled for my endoscopy. in preparation for same, i have to go off my plavix and increase my aspirin (from 81 mg to 325 mg - a standard tablet) today. that makse me happy, because it makes me feel that once again, health is coming closer, rather than running away from me.
i'm not really scared of the endoscopy, i'm just going to make sure they put me all the way out. i had an endo back in '88 after a pretty bad mva. i was ok, but i woke up in the middle of the procedure - not fun.
on tuesday, i have to make sure my pcp sent all my test results and the form they requested back to dr roslin's office. i don't want ANYTHING standing in the way of my progress!
wishing you all a safe and happy memorial day.
dee
surgery 6/3/08!!!!!
May 14, 2008
halle-o-freakin-lujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am finally, deliriously happy, the way i've seen others get.
i can finally do the happy dance -
my surgery date has been set for 6/3/08 at lenox hill hospital in manhattan, performed by dr mitchell roslin.
my endoscopy will be performed 5/28/08.
i'm so happy my head is spinning!
so, of course, i'm not returning to work before the surgery. since i didn't pass the stress test, i'll be staying home. i see the cardiologist tomorrow afternoon at 5pm, then i'll see my pcp/endocrinologist on monday at 1 pm.
everything has worked out, and i know it's all for the best. not only have the doctors all finally agreed as to what should be done about my care and my meds, but i finally understand all the preparations as well.
o happy day!
i can't believe how happy i am.
soon, i'll have my life and health back - my kids will have their mom back. and i'll soon be off all these freaking meds!
whew!
i am finally, deliriously happy, the way i've seen others get.
i can finally do the happy dance -
my surgery date has been set for 6/3/08 at lenox hill hospital in manhattan, performed by dr mitchell roslin.
my endoscopy will be performed 5/28/08.
i'm so happy my head is spinning!
so, of course, i'm not returning to work before the surgery. since i didn't pass the stress test, i'll be staying home. i see the cardiologist tomorrow afternoon at 5pm, then i'll see my pcp/endocrinologist on monday at 1 pm.
everything has worked out, and i know it's all for the best. not only have the doctors all finally agreed as to what should be done about my care and my meds, but i finally understand all the preparations as well.
o happy day!
i can't believe how happy i am.
soon, i'll have my life and health back - my kids will have their mom back. and i'll soon be off all these freaking meds!
whew!
well...
May 12, 2008
joanna from dr roslin's office called. I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR THE VSG!!!!!!!!!!!! all i need now is to get the endoscopy done. i've already had the ekg, chest xray and bloodwork done. tomorrow, my pcp will fill out the clearance papers, and i'm going to try and sneak in to see dr mansour and get him to do my endoscopy asap. i'm sure he'll be able to squeeze me in somewhere.
plus, i wrote my metlife appeal letter yesterday, mailed it out today and emailed it to andre dyer today as well. unbelievably, my supervisors don't want me back at the office at reduced hours. they insist i must come back working a full 9 hours per day. that is HOGWASH - just last july, i returned at 6 hrs/day, and it wasn't a problem. well, my thinking is, that if i can't be released to rtw at 9 hrs/day, then i am disabled, so they have to pay me. we shall see what they saw. mr dyer say metlife has 45 days to answer my appeal, but he's going to see if they will expedite it.
boy, my company is acting stupid when it comes to me. i wish they knew how badly i really want to come back to work, but how scared about my health i truly am. i don't tell anybody about the intermittent pains and flutters in my chest, but i can't - not if i want to get better. so i just keep doing what i'm doing, and pray that all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well!
i'm proud not to have given up. and happy that all this stuff has brought me closer to my family. i think things are on their way back to the better way they used to be. thank God!
plus, i wrote my metlife appeal letter yesterday, mailed it out today and emailed it to andre dyer today as well. unbelievably, my supervisors don't want me back at the office at reduced hours. they insist i must come back working a full 9 hours per day. that is HOGWASH - just last july, i returned at 6 hrs/day, and it wasn't a problem. well, my thinking is, that if i can't be released to rtw at 9 hrs/day, then i am disabled, so they have to pay me. we shall see what they saw. mr dyer say metlife has 45 days to answer my appeal, but he's going to see if they will expedite it.
boy, my company is acting stupid when it comes to me. i wish they knew how badly i really want to come back to work, but how scared about my health i truly am. i don't tell anybody about the intermittent pains and flutters in my chest, but i can't - not if i want to get better. so i just keep doing what i'm doing, and pray that all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well!
i'm proud not to have given up. and happy that all this stuff has brought me closer to my family. i think things are on their way back to the better way they used to be. thank God!
no more drama!
May 10, 2008
so today, i went to the cardio for the chest xray and stress test.
the xray went fine, and i joked a bit with the technician. later, i got on the machine to do the stress test. i was still feeling ok, maybe a little apprehensive about what the results might be. i got on, walked for a couple of minutes and had to stop, because i got sharp pains in my chest, and a numb, hot tight feeling in my left hand up to my forearm. they gave me 4 sprays of nitroglycerin, then gave me a nitro-quick pill under my tongue. my bp had gone up to 220/90. they let me sit, and eventually it came down to 130/85. because of all this, i now have to be scheduled for an angiogram. this is actually terrible, because if i need another stent, then i'll be held back another 6 months without surgery, unless i can get them to put a non drug-eluting stent in there.
if i can get past this crap, maybe i really WILL be able to have my surgery soon. additionally, i have composed a formal denial to metlife, my disability carrier. i'd requested a reduced hour rtw, but my supervisor said no. bone-head! first they want me back, then they don't. which is it? and are they going to allow me to get myself together so i can heal and get back to work in an effective way??? i hope so. I am so sick of all this crap - you just don't know!
so, monday i rest, tuesday i see the pcp and have the paperwork completed, wednesday i get the angiogram done, and see dr mansour, the one who will do the endoscopy. sometime after, i will see my cardiologist, and see what type of clearance he gives me. pray this all goes smooothly. i believe it will, especially since this is just too much crap to go through!
pray for me!
the xray went fine, and i joked a bit with the technician. later, i got on the machine to do the stress test. i was still feeling ok, maybe a little apprehensive about what the results might be. i got on, walked for a couple of minutes and had to stop, because i got sharp pains in my chest, and a numb, hot tight feeling in my left hand up to my forearm. they gave me 4 sprays of nitroglycerin, then gave me a nitro-quick pill under my tongue. my bp had gone up to 220/90. they let me sit, and eventually it came down to 130/85. because of all this, i now have to be scheduled for an angiogram. this is actually terrible, because if i need another stent, then i'll be held back another 6 months without surgery, unless i can get them to put a non drug-eluting stent in there.
if i can get past this crap, maybe i really WILL be able to have my surgery soon. additionally, i have composed a formal denial to metlife, my disability carrier. i'd requested a reduced hour rtw, but my supervisor said no. bone-head! first they want me back, then they don't. which is it? and are they going to allow me to get myself together so i can heal and get back to work in an effective way??? i hope so. I am so sick of all this crap - you just don't know!
so, monday i rest, tuesday i see the pcp and have the paperwork completed, wednesday i get the angiogram done, and see dr mansour, the one who will do the endoscopy. sometime after, i will see my cardiologist, and see what type of clearance he gives me. pray this all goes smooothly. i believe it will, especially since this is just too much crap to go through!
pray for me!
the run around redux...
May 08, 2008
yesterday i took the subway for the first time in 4 years. i was SO afraid and i didn't think i would be able to deal with it, but i was just fine.
i got to the nutritionist's office, and she was very informative. she is also the thinnest woman i've ever seen in my life. you could tell she's healthy, but dang if her thighs aren't smaller than my arms!!! i left the office feeling very positive, because she told me that after the procedure, i will NOT have to take a huge regimen of expensive vitamins and proteins. she says all i'll really need is a good multivitamin. i'm already taking one now, and i'll probably continue to take the b12, calcium and iron i'm also taking, but she said i didn't really have to. i definitely won't need any special bariatric formulations, so that's good. MUCH less expensive. also, i'd bought some protein bullets and protein isolate powder. i'll use those until they run out, but i probably won't need to buy any more, although i may decide to keep it up at least a couple of times a week. that is just the BEST news.
later, i went to my pcp's office. i got referrals for all the tests i need (bloods, ekg, chest xray, egd) and a letter of clearance - i'm going back to work MONDAY, y'all! i'm a little apprehensive, but excited to be getting back into the swing of my life. i'll only be going back at six hours per day at first, but i think that's all i'll be able to stand anyway. i'll try that for the next 6 weeks, and see how it works out. i'm hoping to have my procedure before then, so this should work out pretty well.
today, i'm going to see my cardiologist, and have him do the ekg. then it's off to the lab for the bloods, and to doshi diagnostics for the chest xray. on tuesday, my pcp will complete the updated clearance form, and on wednesday, i see the dr who will perform the egd. i doubt all this will get done and processed in time for a procedure on 5/19, but miracles can and DO happen. i'm praying for miracles!
i really am starting to get excited now. things are looking up for the girl...
i got to the nutritionist's office, and she was very informative. she is also the thinnest woman i've ever seen in my life. you could tell she's healthy, but dang if her thighs aren't smaller than my arms!!! i left the office feeling very positive, because she told me that after the procedure, i will NOT have to take a huge regimen of expensive vitamins and proteins. she says all i'll really need is a good multivitamin. i'm already taking one now, and i'll probably continue to take the b12, calcium and iron i'm also taking, but she said i didn't really have to. i definitely won't need any special bariatric formulations, so that's good. MUCH less expensive. also, i'd bought some protein bullets and protein isolate powder. i'll use those until they run out, but i probably won't need to buy any more, although i may decide to keep it up at least a couple of times a week. that is just the BEST news.
later, i went to my pcp's office. i got referrals for all the tests i need (bloods, ekg, chest xray, egd) and a letter of clearance - i'm going back to work MONDAY, y'all! i'm a little apprehensive, but excited to be getting back into the swing of my life. i'll only be going back at six hours per day at first, but i think that's all i'll be able to stand anyway. i'll try that for the next 6 weeks, and see how it works out. i'm hoping to have my procedure before then, so this should work out pretty well.
today, i'm going to see my cardiologist, and have him do the ekg. then it's off to the lab for the bloods, and to doshi diagnostics for the chest xray. on tuesday, my pcp will complete the updated clearance form, and on wednesday, i see the dr who will perform the egd. i doubt all this will get done and processed in time for a procedure on 5/19, but miracles can and DO happen. i'm praying for miracles!
i really am starting to get excited now. things are looking up for the girl...
SIGH! it never ends...
May 07, 2008
i saw dr roslin today.
he told me that he felt comfortable performing surgery on me, and was pretty certain i wouldn't have any problems, but that he recommends the VSG instead of the rny. he says the rny may leave me in danger of excess bleeding because of all the cuts and connections, and that i might not heal as well as everyone else because of the meds i'll still have to take and my diabetes. with my history, i need to leave my body with the ability to keep taking aspirin, plavix and NSAIDs, and possibly steroids. if i had the rny, taking any of those could give me ulcers.
this IS good news, so why did i get sad about it? i don't know, maybe because i had been fighting and fighting for rny, and now i'm forced, with good reason, tho change my mind yet again. so --- i agreed to the vsg.
NEXT - i saw the insurance girl and the pa. after all the shit i've been through, i STILL have to go for more tests. i have to get an updated chest x-ray, more bloodwork, an updated ekg and an endoscopy. i also have to have my pcp update my clearance. the faster i do these things, the sooner i can get into the hospital to get the vsg. SO - tomorrow, i see their nutritionist at 11am, then come home to see my pcp. i'll make an appt to see the cardio friday, and i should have more to say by then. the good news, is that if i can get all this done quickly, i can have the vsg done as quickly as 5/19. so, since that's the date i plucked from thin air after all those changes, i think this is a good sign that maybe now things will go smoothly.
once again, i'm only cautiously optimistic, but it's getting better.
i feel like i have been pushed arund so much - i just want to give in. but i won't. my life is too precious and i've fought too hard to stop now. it's just that i'm freaking sick and tired of all these tests and running around. of course, i'm going to get it all done, but dang!
keep praying...
he told me that he felt comfortable performing surgery on me, and was pretty certain i wouldn't have any problems, but that he recommends the VSG instead of the rny. he says the rny may leave me in danger of excess bleeding because of all the cuts and connections, and that i might not heal as well as everyone else because of the meds i'll still have to take and my diabetes. with my history, i need to leave my body with the ability to keep taking aspirin, plavix and NSAIDs, and possibly steroids. if i had the rny, taking any of those could give me ulcers.
this IS good news, so why did i get sad about it? i don't know, maybe because i had been fighting and fighting for rny, and now i'm forced, with good reason, tho change my mind yet again. so --- i agreed to the vsg.
NEXT - i saw the insurance girl and the pa. after all the shit i've been through, i STILL have to go for more tests. i have to get an updated chest x-ray, more bloodwork, an updated ekg and an endoscopy. i also have to have my pcp update my clearance. the faster i do these things, the sooner i can get into the hospital to get the vsg. SO - tomorrow, i see their nutritionist at 11am, then come home to see my pcp. i'll make an appt to see the cardio friday, and i should have more to say by then. the good news, is that if i can get all this done quickly, i can have the vsg done as quickly as 5/19. so, since that's the date i plucked from thin air after all those changes, i think this is a good sign that maybe now things will go smoothly.
once again, i'm only cautiously optimistic, but it's getting better.
i feel like i have been pushed arund so much - i just want to give in. but i won't. my life is too precious and i've fought too hard to stop now. it's just that i'm freaking sick and tired of all these tests and running around. of course, i'm going to get it all done, but dang!
keep praying...
i went to the seminar today...
May 06, 2008
at manhattan minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. it went very well. i met the director of lap surgery, dr paresh shah, who happens to have gone to the same high school i went to. after all i've been through, i took that to be a positive sign...
i waited until after most of the audience had gone, and asked the dr if cardiac stents precluded one from having gastric bypass at this facility. when he said no, it was as if a 2 ton weight had been lifted from my body. i waited until i was the last one there, and introduced myself to him. when i told him we had the same hs alma mater he smiled and shook my hand. my positive vibe intensified. i explained a little about what my situation was, and he told me he didn't see it as a prohibitive situation - of course my records had to be reviewed first. the pa, joanne, told me if everything was clear, and all my tests were still valid, that they dates available soon. so, maybe i won't have to wait too long.
my formal appointment with the doctor is tomorrow at 2pm. i'm cautiously optimistic for the first time in weeks. actually, i feel like flying and spinning and dancing and singing. i am SO happy. i look foward to this step being over and going back to work,and getting my life back!
pray for me...
i waited until after most of the audience had gone, and asked the dr if cardiac stents precluded one from having gastric bypass at this facility. when he said no, it was as if a 2 ton weight had been lifted from my body. i waited until i was the last one there, and introduced myself to him. when i told him we had the same hs alma mater he smiled and shook my hand. my positive vibe intensified. i explained a little about what my situation was, and he told me he didn't see it as a prohibitive situation - of course my records had to be reviewed first. the pa, joanne, told me if everything was clear, and all my tests were still valid, that they dates available soon. so, maybe i won't have to wait too long.
my formal appointment with the doctor is tomorrow at 2pm. i'm cautiously optimistic for the first time in weeks. actually, i feel like flying and spinning and dancing and singing. i am SO happy. i look foward to this step being over and going back to work,and getting my life back!
pray for me...
my saga continues...
May 03, 2008
i finally spoke w/dr sapala. he says he has no idea what dr wagner will say, in terms of me having my procedure. dr wagner and his panel have to meet in committee to decide my fate. i have no idea who's even ON this committee, and no idea when they'll be done. dr sapala recommended i switch to a dr besser at cornell-weill, but he didn't take hip. so on tuesday, i have an seminar appt w/a dr roslyn at lenox hill hospital in manhattan. lenox hill is a very good hospital, and dr roslyn has a good reputation. so, the seminar's tuesday, then i see the dr himself at 2pm on wednesday. i'm very excited, and hoping this dr roslyn will have something good to tell me. otherwise, it's back to work without surgery for me.
pray for me, y'all!!!
i'm holding on, but i don't know how long i can last, ya know???
pray for me, y'all!!!
i'm holding on, but i don't know how long i can last, ya know???
i am DONE waiting...
Apr 29, 2008
for dr sapala! i called mary early this morning, and she didn't return my call until after 5pm. of course, it's too late for me to do anything else but wait.
but i'm not going to be waiting for dr sapala or anyone else. this is MY journey, and i'm taking control back. i probably should have done this back on 4/9 after that shameful show in the operating room, but i tried to be patient.
tomorrow i am making an appointment with dr Piotr Gorecki of Methodist Hospital. he is the dr my pcp told me to go with in the first place. i guess a hard head makes a soft behind. i will call him as soon as i drop the kids off at school.
i am completely burnt up. my pcp told me he didn't want to discuss my issues over the phone. he wants me to come in. what really burns me up is that in the beginning, both dr chokshi and dr kazeem were so vehement about me staying out, now dr kazeem is kind of luke warm. i haven't even called dr chokshi, because he was against me having the procedure in the first place, and all this madness with the anaesthesiologist is mostly because of him. i know that the longer i stay out, the less they can justify it, especially if i'm not having the surgery and the 6 months without cardiac incident HAS expired. the bad thing is, if i go back to work now, i'll have to wait 32 weeks, or about 8 months before i will have enough time to ensure fmla coverage. nobody freaking cares - nobody thought of this before they counselled me to go along this route. what i think is that they want to hold me off for 6 months. that is absolute BULLSHIT. if that's the case, then why didn't they say this shit before???
so, i'm out of work, not being paid, in danger of losing my job, and not even close to having my surgery. my pcp wants me to come in thurday, the surgeon wants me to come in on friday. fuck em all - why the hell should i have to wait until friday??? that definitely means i can't have the surgery 5/5. so now what? and why would he tell me to bring my mom to the appointment unless it was to tell me no, i'm not having the surgery. well, guess what?? i AM going to have it, come hell or high water. all these cardiologists have approved me, and that has got to count for something. i will gather up all my medicals from dr sapala, and that will be IT.
damn.
About Me
brooklyn, NY
Location
27.6
BMI
Surgery
06/03/2008
Surgery Date
Nov 29, 2007
Member Since
