- Date:
Tuesday June 26, 2001
- Dr.
Madrid's office. Informed my Cardiologist that I am
contemplating getting the Fobi Pouch procedure. He was
surprised to hear that I weigh 270 lbs. Dr. Madrid
explained all the ramifications of obesity and the
mechanisms whereby once overweight has been obtained and
weight loss methods are attempted the body works harder
to keep the fat. He explained that muscle burns lots of
calories, while fat burns very few calories. A fat
person's metabolism also slows down and conserves what he
eats as fat. You become an efficient fat storing machine.
Dieting exacerbates the situation. While exercise will
offset the body's efficient storage of fat, the obese
person saddled with 100 or more excess pounds has the
hardest time trying to exercise due to aches and pains,
shortness of breath, chest pains and the list goes on. I
failed to mention being laughed at at the gym, which has
happened to me. The social implications of being fat in a
society where everyone is judged by their appearance have
a tremendous effect on the psyche of an obese person. Dr.
Madrid's final opinion was that I should have the
surgery. He suggested a colleague of his do the procedure
laproscopically out of Lakewood Hospital. He said he had
a "problem" with the hospital Dr. Fobi uses but
did not say what the problem was.
-
- Date:
Tuesday, June 27, 2001
- Weighed
in at Internist, Dr. Saeed's office. To my chagrin I
weighed 277 lbs., the most I have ever weighed in my
entire life. Somehow, I managed not to cry after the
nurse weighed me. Dr. Saeed also agreed that the surgery
should be considered. He scheduled me for a complete
physical exam the following month.
-
- Date:
Monday, July 2. 2001
- Received
the Fobi Pouch info packet in the mail with schedule of
Support Group Sessions. Attended my first Fobi Support
Group accompanied by my husband Len. Len seems to think
my attempt to lose weight is about him. He will benefit
from my weight loss, perhaps, but I need to do this for
me . It's about me, it's about my health, my self esteem,
my desire to be more able bodied and useful.
- There
were people at group who talked frankly about problems
they had after the surgery; dehydration, nausea, having
to have revision surgery. I was glad they shared this
information because I feel the need to be totally
informed before I have the operation.
-
- Date:
Friday, July 19, 2001
-
- I
turned 45 today. I attended the free consultation at
Fobi's office accompanied by Len. Dr. Felahy interviewed
me. He seemed very attentive and observing. He assured us
that the surgery would not be given unless I am medically
able to survive it. He explained the team approach to
surgery, which was reassuring to us since I have cardiac
problems and asthma. We had questions about my congestive
heart failure, keloids, liver condition, religious
refusal of blood transfusion, and adhesions from previous
surgeries that he addressed satisfactorily. Front and
side pictures were taken of me and placed in my file. I
weighed in at 278 lbs. The nurse explained that when my
blood work results come in they will call me to schedule
the surgery. Dr. Fobi takes one Medicare case per month
on a charity basis because while Medicare covers the
surgery, they do so on their own reimbursement scale, not
that of the physician.
-
- Date:
Saturday, July 21. 2001
- Attended
my third Fobi support group session. Was joined by a
friend who also wants to have the surgery. Unfortunately
my friend does not have insurance coverage or major
medical problems that would necessitate the urgency of
Dr. Fobi taking her on as a charity case. She was very
disappointed, but I hope she does not give up. I left for
a ten day vacation to Florida immediately after the group
session. All I can remember doing on the trip was eating
eating and more eating. I would not be surprised if I'm
at 280 lbs. now. I hope its not more.
- Date:
Saturday, August 4. 2001
- Attended
Fobi group with Len. Len has become more supportive of my
surgery decision. At one point he opposed my having the
surgery, worried mostly about my heart problems that I
might not make it through the surgery. The visit with Dr.
Felahy seemed to be a turning point for Len. He had his
concerns addressed and began to look at the surgery as
less risky. At group I brought up posts on the Internet
that claim weight loss surgery diminishes sex drive. That
got a laugh out of all in attendance and Dr. Igwe
explained that the Internet is a rumor mill for those who
have bad experiences. The surgery does not effect sex
drive, but some of the psychological aspects of adjusting
to a new body image may effect some people. Imagine never
having had the experience of being found physically
attractive by the opposite sex and not knowing how to
react to it or not really believing that it is happening
to you.
-
- Date:
Wednesday, August 8. 2001
- Realized
that this decision is a major one in my life and that I
ought to be chronicling it. Began work on posting this
site on the Internet. I want others to read about my
journey. I want people to develop a sensitivity to the
issues of the obese person. We are just plain, ordinary
people, but bigger. We are your neighbors, co-workers,
relatives. friends. I hope that reading my experience
will voice the challenges obese people are faced with and
the lengths to which we will go to try to do something
about our situation. I hope to help insensitive ones
realize that becoming obese can happen to anyone. An
accident or illness can limit physical activity. But most
obese people simply inherited the syndrome. My family
centers all activities around food. Most families do.
Family and food go hand in hand. The important thing is
that obese people be accepted because first of all, we
are people, second, and less important is the fact that
we are overweight.
-
- Date:
Tuesday, October 23. 2001
- So little
time and so much to update! Since my last entry I have
moved, started a new job, signed on with a new insurance
HMO and made all kinds of discoveries about my health.
Things have changed in America and I’m only 47 days away
from being a grandma. As of now I am still covered by Medi-
care and in addition I have the HMO coverage through my new
job. I faxed Dr. Fobi’s office all the info so that perhaps
this will speed up my surgery date. I will keep you posted.
Meantime, I found out today that a condition that I have
been suffering with for two decades, PCOS may be the root
cause of my obesity and that now the condition is being
successfully treated in some patients with the drug
Glucophage. Hooray for modern medicine! I was only 23 when
I was diagnosed with PCOS and at that time the only treatment
was total hysterectomy. So I was very pleased to find
this out, though on the down side, I have gone 20 some
years without treatment and that poses a cancer danger for
which I am going to see a Dr. about next Tuesday. I just
have a feeling that everything is going to come out fine
and I’ll get my Fobi surgery soon and begin a whole new life.
That is certainly my prayer.
dt>
Date:
Monday, May 27, 2002
Wow! So much has happened since I last updated this site.
I don't know where to start! Good news first, I
finally had the Fobi Pouch surgery on April 22, 2002.
It's now five weeks later and I have already lost 36
pounds. For me, I must emphasize ME, because everyone's
experience is different, I am experiencing a lot of
not so pleasant side effects. Nothing dangerous or too
painful, but annoying, nonetheless. But the weight loss
makes it all worthwhile. I think I can learn to endure
the little nuances that go with this surgery. And I hear
tell that most of them go away after the first six
weeks and you get off pureed food to real food. You can
read more about it on my Yahoo Group site and join in if
you like to post or read posts, research the surgery or
whatever:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SD-WLS-Support/.
- Date:
Saturday January 18, 2003
- I haven't had a computer or the last six months, so this is my first update in a long, long time. I'm down to 165 pounds now. It looks like I weigh less, though and I fit a smaller size than I did when I was young and weighed 150 pounds. I will have to have another surgery later this year to repair a hernia that has developed and to get the breast reduction I should have had several years ago when I tore a ligament that supports my breast. Other than that, I'm fine and have adjusted to all the changes the surgery made pretty well.People really notice that I've lost weight. I guess 110 pounds ain't hay! Some people have even failed to recognize me. I really get a kick out of that. Well, that's all for now. I'll try to report again soon. Hugs
- Date:
Thursday May 22, 2003
- I now
weight in at 155 lbs!When I attended a wedding in March
people who have known me for years but haven't seen me
since my surgery did not recognize me at all! They felt
I resembled myself, or said I looked like I could be related
to the woman they knew but everyone took a while to get
used to the new me. I'm still losing but at a much slower
rate. I have a bowel obstruction that needs to be removed
surgically when I have the hernia removed and the breast
reduction surgery. As soon as my insurance company approves
I will have the surgeries scheduled.
-
- Goals
- As of
August 8, 2001 am at a body mass index of 44, weighing in
at 280 lbs. and 5'7" tall. A healthy body mass index
for a woman of my height is between 20 to 25, or 127 to
159 lbs. My goal is to lose between 121 to 153 lbs.
- Plan
- Having
tried every imaginable plan to lose weight on my own, I
am seeking to have gastric bypass surgery. The surgery
will reduce my stomach to a pouch that will hold
approximately 1 ounce of food per meal. It will also
bypass the absorption of fats and with a small plastic
ring, limit the size of food chunks that can enter my
stomach. A complete description of the procedure can be
seen at www.cstobesity.com , call
1-800-564-3624 or write Center for Surgical Treatment of
Obesity, 21520 S. Pioneer Blvd., suite 204, Hawaiian
Gardens, Ca 90716.
-
- Goals
- A
problem most obese people have to deal with is public
scorn and ridicule. It is very sad that we live in a
society that seems to consider the obese to be
non-persons. Yet, this is the state of affairs the obese
have to contend with. Health clubs and gyms, therefore,
become a problem rather than a solution for the truly
overweight person. My goal is to open a chain of health
clubs for the overweight, a place where no one will scorn
or ridicule. These health clubs will serve those who are
a body mass index of 35 or more at sign up. It will
continue to serve them until they achieve a body mass
index of 25 at which time the patron will be presented
with a graduation diploma of achievement. At this point
the person will be able to continue the healthy pattern
of exercise at a typical gym of choice.
- Plan
- Funding
for this project is the main obstacle I hope to be able
to overcome, perhaps with the aid of bariatric surgeons,
doctors who specialize in weight loss surgery, as
investors. I am working on a business plan and research
into the project. I will contact makers of exercise
equipment for estimates of reinforced equipment that will
accommodate persons who weigh as much as 1000 lbs.I will
interview physical therapists and personal trainers who
specialize in obesity. I am in the process of contacting
the Surgeon General's office for support of the project
especially in approaching Medicare to cover part or all
of the cost of gym membership for individuals who are on
SSI Disability due mainly to complications of obesity.
Obesity is a disease, exercise is a treatment, and as
such, should be covered, especially if professionally
monitored and designed to meet the needs of the morbidly
obese.
- Achievements
- Aside
from being overweight, I do have a life. I am married to
a wonderful man, Leonard, whom I adore. We have been
married one year as of June 19, 2001. I have two grown
children from a previous marriage, Kyra is 25 and Davon
is 23. Kyra will be presenting me with my first
grandchild on or about December 10, 2001. We are besides
ourselves with anticipation for her arrival. Davon
recently got out of the U. S. Army and is about to embark
on a new career. I have managed my family's small farm
for the last 25 years. My mom is 81 now and ready to sell
the farm and move closer to family.
- Milestones
- I was
baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on June 4, 1972.
My life began on this date, thanks to Jehovah God. On
June 19, 2001, Len and I were married in a private
ceremony in San Diego, CA. The next milestone I hope to
be able to enter here is the day I weigh in at 159 lbs.!
Street
address
Electronic mail address
[email protected]
Web address
http://www.geocities.com/mrsmerticebuckholtz
FAX number
619-546-7549
Sign Guestbook
View Guestbook
- Center for
Surgical Treatment Of Obesity
- A
complete description of what is involved in the Fobi
Pouch surgery can be found at this site
- Online
Support Group
- An
online support group for Fobi patients and interested
parties can be found at this site ...
- Watchtower
- A
complete description of what Jehovah's Witnesses believe
can be found at this site ...
- Pictures of Grandchildren
- Khylaya & Javon
- Face's Space
- A
complete description of my son Davon's music producing business
can be found at this site ...
- Face's ISound Space
- My son Davon's music producing business downloads site...
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Taylorbrosfarm.net 2001.
Last revised: May 27, 2002.
