A couple of folks questioned my determination to get my next fill done under fluoro. Let me provide you with a couple of reasons of why I think this is a good idea at this time for me and a friend's horror story.
I am 6 months out in about a week and 1/2. I've lost 45lbs (with the majority of that happening within 1 month of surgery) but literally not a single pound in over a month.
My hunger level is pretty high. And I do a pretty good job of differentiating between head hunger and actual hunger. I usually don't eat until I can actually hear my stomach growling. I can eat 2 eggs and a piece of sausage at 8 am and be growling by 10.
My restriction level is not where I would like it to be. I can literally eat a full sized chewy bagel no problem and probably could go for a second if I didn't stop myself. I can eat 2 slices of pizza and not even worry about getting stuck.
And WHY NOT? It's covered by my insurance and offered right there at my doctor's office. I'm not afraid of a little barium swallow and some x-rays :)
Now onto my friend who attends the same clinic as I do. She had her surgery about a month before mine I believe which would put her around the 6 month mark when her fluoro took place. She had been having the same types of issues that I have with hunger and restriction. Yes, she had lost weight but not as much as doctor (or she) had expected.
When they did the fluoroscopy they found out that her band was so loose that she didn't have any restriction at all! AND to make matters worse, her port was flipped. They weren't sure they had ever given her a fill into the actual port - which means she had been paying for saline injections into her belly for 6 months! I can't imagine the emotion she was feeling when they told her that. She has since had her port repositioned and his hopefully on her way to actual weightloss.
All of that combined helped me decide that my next fill would definitely be a fluoro fill. No reason to put it off. Let's take a look in there and see what is actually happening.
And about talking to the doctor regarding the incompetent people at his practice - been there, done that. I don't think he really cares. I think I'll call a couple other offices today to see what it would cost me to switch.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
but they were so nice in the infomercial ...
Well, I finally had one of those appointments that makes me wonder WHY THE HELL DID I CHOOSE THIS OFFICE!!!!
I originally had an appointment scheduled for Feb 26th but I needed to reschedule due to a last minute conference I needed to attend. I called to reschedule and told them that I wanted to go as soon as possible and since Lisa (the FNP that I usually see) only works on Thurs/Fri please schedule me with Brett if he was available sooner.
Got the appointment set for 3/8 and was ready to go. I showed up on time for my appointment and the lobby was semi-busy. After about 30 mins of waiting (and listening to some other woman bitch that people were being called before her even though she had been there longer) I was taken straight to an exam room. Usually they weigh me first, but I figured perhaps someone else was using the scale.
I sat there for about 30 minutes waiting. In comes a nurse who I had never seen before. She asked me if I usually saw Lisa. I told her I did but that I had to reschedule and so they put me with Brett for an adjustment. We talked about my issues and how I thought perhaps I should do the fill under fluro. I talked for awhile about my lack of restriction and my hunger level. It was weird that she didn't recognize some of the terminology that I was using. I let her know that I wanted to do fluro to make sure everything was in place and working as it should be.
She finally decided to weigh me AND WTF I was up 1.5lbs from my last visit. I told them I was f-ing hungry and not restricted! Look what happens!
So we go back into the exam room and she says she is going to get everything ready for the doctor. That it might be a good idea to schedule a fluro appointment with Lisa and the x-ray tech are both there (neither were there that day of course). She was going to assume that the doctor would give me .5ccs just to tide me over until I could have the fluro appointment. She didn't know where all the fill supplies were and had to kind of fumble through the cabinet to find everything.
She said the doctor would be right in and went into the hallway. A few minutes later I could hear her in the hallway talking to another nurse. She was saying that I had been scheduled for the wrong doctor and that what I really needed to do was reschedule but that if Dr. X wanted to fill me he could. They talked for a few minutes about how I need to go under fluro because of my hunger, weight gain, etc.
I sat there listening and I couldn't believe they were talking about me right outside the door (pretty loudly I might add) like I couldn't even hear them!
I decided to interrupt their conversation and let them know that if what I needed to do was reschedule then that is what would be happening. I told her that I was supposed to be scheduled with Brett and if that wasn't the case then I didn't want some other person who doesn't normally do this to be sticking me with needles. She said that Dr. X was qualified to give me a fill he just usually doesn't do it because he isn't a weighloss surgery doctor! I told her that instead of waiting another 30 minutes (I had now been there almost 2 hours) and being stuck by some random doc, I would rather reschedule for the correct person and get it all done at once. She told me that would be fine.
You pay when you walk in the door at this office so I had already shelled out my $60 specialist copay. Of course, I then told her that I would be expecting a refund from that appointment because nothing had happened. She told me that wouldn't be a problem either and sent me up to check out.
The lady at check out (while very nice about it) basically told me that they wouldn't refund the $60 that I had paid since I had been seen by the nurse. I told her the gist of the story and that I wasn't leaving until it was settled - either give me back my $60 or apply it to my new appointment. She went to ask the office manager who thankfully told her to apply it to my next appointment. I got her name, the office manager's name, the nurse's name, etc. No way I was walking out and not having it in the bag.
So after 2 hours, no fill, and $60 later - they rescheduled my appointment for the next opening when Lisa and the x-ray tech would be there. MARCH 26th!!! That was two and 1/2 weeks away from that day.
I would honestly think about changing doctors but I don't want to have to pay another office a membership fee or go through unnecessary tests.
UGH! I hope things go better next week and that all is well under fluro.
I originally had an appointment scheduled for Feb 26th but I needed to reschedule due to a last minute conference I needed to attend. I called to reschedule and told them that I wanted to go as soon as possible and since Lisa (the FNP that I usually see) only works on Thurs/Fri please schedule me with Brett if he was available sooner.
Got the appointment set for 3/8 and was ready to go. I showed up on time for my appointment and the lobby was semi-busy. After about 30 mins of waiting (and listening to some other woman bitch that people were being called before her even though she had been there longer) I was taken straight to an exam room. Usually they weigh me first, but I figured perhaps someone else was using the scale.
I sat there for about 30 minutes waiting. In comes a nurse who I had never seen before. She asked me if I usually saw Lisa. I told her I did but that I had to reschedule and so they put me with Brett for an adjustment. We talked about my issues and how I thought perhaps I should do the fill under fluro. I talked for awhile about my lack of restriction and my hunger level. It was weird that she didn't recognize some of the terminology that I was using. I let her know that I wanted to do fluro to make sure everything was in place and working as it should be.
She finally decided to weigh me AND WTF I was up 1.5lbs from my last visit. I told them I was f-ing hungry and not restricted! Look what happens!
So we go back into the exam room and she says she is going to get everything ready for the doctor. That it might be a good idea to schedule a fluro appointment with Lisa and the x-ray tech are both there (neither were there that day of course). She was going to assume that the doctor would give me .5ccs just to tide me over until I could have the fluro appointment. She didn't know where all the fill supplies were and had to kind of fumble through the cabinet to find everything.
She said the doctor would be right in and went into the hallway. A few minutes later I could hear her in the hallway talking to another nurse. She was saying that I had been scheduled for the wrong doctor and that what I really needed to do was reschedule but that if Dr. X wanted to fill me he could. They talked for a few minutes about how I need to go under fluro because of my hunger, weight gain, etc.
I sat there listening and I couldn't believe they were talking about me right outside the door (pretty loudly I might add) like I couldn't even hear them!
I decided to interrupt their conversation and let them know that if what I needed to do was reschedule then that is what would be happening. I told her that I was supposed to be scheduled with Brett and if that wasn't the case then I didn't want some other person who doesn't normally do this to be sticking me with needles. She said that Dr. X was qualified to give me a fill he just usually doesn't do it because he isn't a weighloss surgery doctor! I told her that instead of waiting another 30 minutes (I had now been there almost 2 hours) and being stuck by some random doc, I would rather reschedule for the correct person and get it all done at once. She told me that would be fine.
You pay when you walk in the door at this office so I had already shelled out my $60 specialist copay. Of course, I then told her that I would be expecting a refund from that appointment because nothing had happened. She told me that wouldn't be a problem either and sent me up to check out.
The lady at check out (while very nice about it) basically told me that they wouldn't refund the $60 that I had paid since I had been seen by the nurse. I told her the gist of the story and that I wasn't leaving until it was settled - either give me back my $60 or apply it to my new appointment. She went to ask the office manager who thankfully told her to apply it to my next appointment. I got her name, the office manager's name, the nurse's name, etc. No way I was walking out and not having it in the bag.
So after 2 hours, no fill, and $60 later - they rescheduled my appointment for the next opening when Lisa and the x-ray tech would be there. MARCH 26th!!! That was two and 1/2 weeks away from that day.
I would honestly think about changing doctors but I don't want to have to pay another office a membership fee or go through unnecessary tests.
UGH! I hope things go better next week and that all is well under fluro.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
WARNING: extreme grossness ahead, dainty ladies do not read!
I swear my child is the infectious incubator for the World Health Organization. He comes home with something new every week! This weekend it happened to be a stomach virus. Poor kid threw up all night Saturday then his Nana, who had been watching him at our house, threw up all day Sunday. His sister got sick Monday afternoon. Well, guess who was next? That's right - me.
I was really nervous about getting sick and how it would work with the band. I took Pep-to, Imodium, Dramamine all in an effort to stave off the nauseousness. I was freaking myself out wondering if I should go in for an emergency unfill or just try to struggle through it. Unfortunately, the puking started before I could make that decision.
I know we all have been sick prior to the band and that we learn how to PB gracefully afterward ... but let me tell you ladies - there is nothing like full-on vomiting after the band. It is an eruption of ground shaking proportions. All of that pent up yuckiness forcing its way through the tiny hole made by our band. It was so forceful that I actually peed every time I threw up. I told my husband that it can't get much more sad than crouching over the toilet puking while pee is running down your leg.
I'm going to call the doc this morning to see if he wants to make sure that my band is still in proper position. That would be the worst of it ... having to go back in to surgery all because of a stupid stomach virus!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
NSVs when a SV isn't available
My scale is stuck. I've bounced around from 280 to 282 for the past week. Talk about frustrating. I try to tell myself that even the best of us have our bouncy times. With everything going on in our lives, I haven't had much time to exercise or make sure I get all my water. Hopefully, I can start back on the right track tomorrow. But alas, no scale victories (SV) for this week.
I did; however, have 2 NSVs.
First, I wore 22/24 clothing for the first time in 3 years! A dress to the wake which brought me tons of compliments and then 2 pairs of pants that I adore - all 22/24. Hopefully, I can fit back into my wedding clothes (didn't wear a dress) within the next few weeks and perhaps even wear them out to dinner on our upcoming anniversary (3/10).
Secondly, and also wedding related, I put back on my wedding ring for the first time in over 2 years. I've been wearing my engagement ring (one of my first NSVs) for about 2 months but my original wedding ring wouldn't fit. So, I continued to wear my maternity wedding band. It wasn't nearly as beautiful as my actual wedding band but at least it fit. On Monday, I tried on my real wedding band and was surprised that it went on. Now, it is still too snug to sleep in but I'm proud to say that it can be worn all day!
Perhaps the scale will decide to play nice at my Monday weigh-in and move along down the line. I'd love to be 279 again. It was the weight I started Weight Watchers back in Oct. 2006 in preparation for my 2008 wedding. Then I decided when we eloped in 2007 to forget about WW and concentrate on celebrating my marriage - aka - eating my way trough 2007.
Glad to know that I can still celebrate my marriage and lose weight at the same time.
I did; however, have 2 NSVs.First, I wore 22/24 clothing for the first time in 3 years! A dress to the wake which brought me tons of compliments and then 2 pairs of pants that I adore - all 22/24. Hopefully, I can fit back into my wedding clothes (didn't wear a dress) within the next few weeks and perhaps even wear them out to dinner on our upcoming anniversary (3/10).
Secondly, and also wedding related, I put back on my wedding ring for the first time in over 2 years. I've been wearing my engagement ring (one of my first NSVs) for about 2 months but my original wedding ring wouldn't fit. So, I continued to wear my maternity wedding band. It wasn't nearly as beautiful as my actual wedding band but at least it fit. On Monday, I tried on my real wedding band and was surprised that it went on. Now, it is still too snug to sleep in but I'm proud to say that it can be worn all day!
Perhaps the scale will decide to play nice at my Monday weigh-in and move along down the line. I'd love to be 279 again. It was the weight I started Weight Watchers back in Oct. 2006 in preparation for my 2008 wedding. Then I decided when we eloped in 2007 to forget about WW and concentrate on celebrating my marriage - aka - eating my way trough 2007.
Glad to know that I can still celebrate my marriage and lose weight at the same time.
Monday, February 1, 2010
non-band related, life and death
WARNING! This post is totally non-band related. WARNING!
We got the phone call at 1am on Friday morning that my stepkids' mom had passed away. She battled brain cancer for a long time and we knew we were very close to the end. The kids took it pretty well. I think it was actually a relief to know that the waiting was over and that their mom was no longer in pain.
It snowed on Friday night which is a rarity in this part of North Carolina. We woke up Saturday morning to a quiet world covered in white. I think it helped the kids so much to be able to put her death aside for a few days and just play in the snow. We went sledding and had snowball fights. I hope to get the videos up on facebook sometime today. There are some great moments. (sidenote: I haven't told everyone on FB about the surgery. I'd love to be friends there just don't mention it please.)
Monday and Tuesday were hard. I do think that the wake was much harder than the funeral, though. The kids seemed to do well until someone came up to them crying - then they cried. At the funeral, we kept them sheltered. Billy and I didn't let many people get close to them. We wanted to ward off a repeat of the previous night. It was a cold rainy day. There is an old southern saying "if it rains on the day of a funeral it means the deceased made it to Heaven." I don't know if that's true but at least the rain kept the graveside portion of the service short and sweet.
I am honestly glad that it is over. I couldn't imagine life for the kids if it dragged on any longer.
We got the phone call at 1am on Friday morning that my stepkids' mom had passed away. She battled brain cancer for a long time and we knew we were very close to the end. The kids took it pretty well. I think it was actually a relief to know that the waiting was over and that their mom was no longer in pain.
It snowed on Friday night which is a rarity in this part of North Carolina. We woke up Saturday morning to a quiet world covered in white. I think it helped the kids so much to be able to put her death aside for a few days and just play in the snow. We went sledding and had snowball fights. I hope to get the videos up on facebook sometime today. There are some great moments. (sidenote: I haven't told everyone on FB about the surgery. I'd love to be friends there just don't mention it please.)Monday and Tuesday were hard. I do think that the wake was much harder than the funeral, though. The kids seemed to do well until someone came up to them crying - then they cried. At the funeral, we kept them sheltered. Billy and I didn't let many people get close to them. We wanted to ward off a repeat of the previous night. It was a cold rainy day. There is an old southern saying "if it rains on the day of a funeral it means the deceased made it to Heaven." I don't know if that's true but at least the rain kept the graveside portion of the service short and sweet.
I am honestly glad that it is over. I couldn't imagine life for the kids if it dragged on any longer.
Monday, January 25, 2010
water water everywhere
I've been playing Amy's water game today and it has to be one of the least fun games I've ever played (no offense Amy). I think it is the water here in my building. It tastes kinda funky. I will have to break down a buy a water filter/pitcher this weekend so that next week the water won't be so blech.
I was reading online trying to figure out just exactly how much water I should be drinking. Everyone knows the old 8oz x 8 rule but I heard several years ago that really your consumption should be based on a more personal factors like weight, activity level, etc. So, I googled it. According to About.com:Nutrition at 280lbs doing 30mins of exercise, I should be drinking 143oz of water a day! That's nearly 8oz x 18! It goes on to say that I can assume that I get 20% of my daily requirement from food which brings me down to 114oz or 15 cups. Holy Water Intake, Batman!
Take the quiz - see what it says about your water consumption.
waiting game
Our life here in the Wood house has been hectic lately. First Aidan was really sick - so sick in fact that he had to get antibiotic shots daily for almost a week! Then of course being the good mother that I am, I got it too. So off to the doc for my shots I went. I had 2 projects due at work and I didn't want to do either! After that we were in a mad rush to get Dalton's pinewood derby car finished and to the race this past Saturday.
WHEW! I am glad the past 2 weeks are over. This week will probably be a difficult one as we are anticipating the stepkids mom's death anytime now. While it will be a very hard thing to do at least it will bring some closure to the past year.
On the weight loss front ... after a marvelous showing in last week's Love to Love myself challenge this past week I was a bit slower. Down 2 lbs this week which of course is standard but it was nice to be the superstar at last week's weigh-in.
I think I am going to play Amy's water bottle game this week to see if it helps. I've got my sharpie all ready to go!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
