What would you do without me?

I'm not being egotistical, I really want to know HOW someone who hasn't had as much medical experience as me or who doesn't have a mother who is an RN handle major medical situations with lack of instructions???

I'm helping a friend after surgery. Issues so far:

• Follow up with specialist (one was called into OR): We get told new patients can't be seen for a month, yet there is something that needs treated in a week. It gets resolved and appt. in a week.
• Discharge instructions state if you have XYZ contact Dr. Green. XYZ occurs but no one knows who Dr. Green is, there is no phone number provided. I looked on hospital's website and no Dr. Green in that specialty. So we called the Dr. to whom we have an appointment with and are told...since you haven't been seen yet, you need to call whoever treated you in OR...HELLO, friend was unconscious in OR so we don't KNOW who was there!!!! Called mom and was told XYZ is normal don't worry. Also called PCP and got a new specialist.
• No instructions regarding changing bandages, no how to, or how often. Luckily, I've been through this myself and I've watched how my mom cared for me, so I know what to do. I had to call and ask how often, I was asked "how often are you doing it now"...I replied "we haven't because we were waiting to call you".
• No instructions as to bathing. Typically, instructions state either yes or no.
• Sent home with binder that does not fit...so much for wearing it to reduce swelling.

Once after one of my own surgeries I had to find a medical supply vendor who took my insurance, even with the help of a nurse case manager it was difficult. I called every DME nearby, I refused to send my mom out searching any further than 10 miles. Finally, the nurse found a mail order vendor. But then the NURSE asked me, "wow, how would others be able to do this, elderly aren't as internet savvy as you are."

EXACTLY...what do other people do???

Cruel and Unusual

Ohio thinks so.

I went for my follow-up endoscopy this morning. I will admit I wasn’t in a good mood from the very beginning. First, the endoscopy was suppose to be two weeks ago but the day before I found out the hospital now expects full deductible the day of service. I offered partial payment, I was told sorry we want more. I wrote an e-mail to complain about my treatment and was fully aware to have money this morning. Second, the hospital layout is confusing and signage sucks. This is a newly acquired hospital but within the same system which I have sought treatment for six years. So even though this was my third visit there in a month I’m still getting lost. So once I made it to registration at 6 AM, I was irritated, hungry, tired and cold.


I finally get registered pay the balance of my deductible and the nurse calls me back to prep area. They do a pregnancy test and tell me change. Oh, you know how nice I thought it was that this hospital had oversized chairs in the waiting area? Well, they did not have a large gown. The nurse had to go over to another department and borrow one. So I change and get in bed. Which was GREAT because for past procedures they have tried to start the IV and then have me wait more until the exam room was ready then want me to change clothes etc with and IV in my arm.

Here’s my IV issue. I have ONE good vein. It’s a very good one, but if you miss it then well I don’t want to think about that. I was told of this “good” vein when I was 11 years old and being tested as a possible bone marrow donor for my sister. The guy who took my blood (probably the first time I had ever had blood drawn) told me “you have a very good vein here, remember to tell people where it is in the future”. And that I have. Today, however, they refused to listen.

My nurse and his assistant could not see or feel the vein. I’m not sure how that is, but they decide to have the anesthesiologist come in and try. Now I have been in the hospital numerous times, had many procedures…my IV access is non-existent except for this 1 vein. Over the years people have tried my hands, feet, even my wrists with no luck. As for my wrists, they are OFF LIMITS. I have let them try once and no success no one gets to try again. It’s a mental thing I know, but it’s pointless for them to try given the emotional trauma this would cause me. During longer hospital stays I’ve required a central line, and I’ve even had a medi-port. But my good vein usually holds up for short procedures like today.

So the anesthesiologist said he does not even want “stick me for no reason” since that vein has a valve and can’t take the catheter. I explain to him that it’s been used for IVs numerous times, to which he then says “exactly” it’s over used and won’t work anymore. WTH? At least try!

So he looks at my hands and wants to try for a vein in my center of my wrist. I say no, and I point out a few other spots that people have been successful in the past, not often but yeah this one time someone got an IV to work there. He looks but doesn’t try. Instead he goes for a vein in my hand right below my thumb.

FAIL. <-- Just as I told him…no one has ever gotten an IV in my hands.

At this point another guy came in and started looking as did two female nurse anesthetists students. So I had a guy search each arm and the nursing students putting tourniquets around my ankles looking for a vein on my foot. I’m trying to show them all the other spots and mention that in the past they’ve had to use my neck.

PSA: Needle sticks are contraindicated for lymphedema affected limbs. Not to mention the tourniquets hurt like at muthaf***.

Given the difficulty I didn’t play the lymphedema card, I let them look. But once again, been there done that. People have tried and failed at starting an IV in my foot.

He tries to start one on the inside of my upper right arm. FAIL

I decide to strike a deal. TRY my “1 good vein” and if that doesn’t work I’ll let you go for my wrist. This is HUGE on my part. Oh I added, and if you do my wrist you need to drug me ASAP.

And still he REFUSED to even TRY. His reply “I know it’s not going to take the IV catheter and I don’t want to stick you for no reason.”

Hello what do you think you’ve been doing the past 2 times???

So then the other guy goes for a vein in my left foot. I cringed from the initial pain, but it was nothing I hadn’t endured before. But then he started “the dig” and I scream “OUCH”, I’m also so emotionally upset by all this I start crying. I scream again from the pain and ask that he please stop if it’s not working. He replies “you have to let me get to the vein”. The students are trying to comfort me as I ask a 2nd and 3rd time that he please STOP since it’s obviously not working…just like it has NEVER worked.

He stops.

Again, I offer my neck. The guy has me turn my head and within minutes the IV is in…finally.

During all this the students were asking me questions. One of them was “have you ever had issues with anesthesia?” My reply “only THIS issue”.

I really do not understand why he would not try the ONE area I told him had a good vein, the area that has work 99% of the time. He said I know you know your body, but I know my job. WHATEVER.

After that, everything was smooth. I had the endoscopy but won’t know the results until I see my surgeon next week.

Perception: Skinny People Aren't Lazy But Overweight People Are

From Medical News Today:

Research at the University of Alberta shows that when a thin person is seen laying down watching television, people assume they're resting. But when people see an overweight person relaxing, it's automatically assumed they're lazy and unmotivated.


Tanya Berry, from the U of A's Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, says these stereotypes about overweight people need to be addressed. Berry says just because a person is overweight, it doesn't mean they don't exercise, and just because a person is thin, it doesn't mean they are fit and healthy.

Berry had a group of study participants look at a number of pictures that would flash on a computer screen. After each photo a sedentary word such as "lazy" would appear. After the participants looked at each picture they were asked to say the colour of each word. Berry says when a picture of a thin "couch potato" came up, the participants were quick to say the colour of the word that appeared. But when a photo of an overweight person lying down appeared, the study participants paused. Berry concluded that the slow reaction resulted as the stereotyped thoughts automatically set in, with the participant thinking about the person being lazy rather than thinking about the colour of the word.

Berry says the research is important because stereotypes can influence the way people behave. She believes that more awareness of stereotypes can help people counter the effects. For example, if you're aware that you hold a stereotype about a couch potato you're less likely to be negatively influenced by those stereotypes.

Source:
Carmen Leibel
University of Alberta

FOX and ABC refuse to air Lane Bryant Ad

The Huffington Post reported:

Lane Bryant Accuses Fox And ABC Of Refusing To Air Plus-Size Lingerie Ad (VIDEO)
First Posted: 04-21-10 11:34 AM
Updated: 04-22-10 09:29 AM

Plus size clothing retailer Lane Bryant criticized Fox and ABC for refusing to air a sexy lingerie commercial, but later deleted an accusatory post on its Inside Curve blog saying the networks embrace a double standard of beauty.

AdWeek still has some of the text of Lane Bryant's post, which read:

"ABC and Fox have made the decision to define beauty for you by denying our new, groundbreaking Cacique commercial from airing freely on their networks."

The post also claims that ABC "restricted our airtime" and refused to air the spot during Dancing With the Stars, while Fox "demanded excessive re-edits and rebuffed it three times before relenting to air it during the final 10 minutes of American Idol, but only after we threatened to pull the ad buy."

The post continues: "Yes, these are the same networks that have scantily-clad housewives so desperate they seduce every man on the block -- and don't forget Bart Simpson, who has shown us the moon more often than NASA, all in what they call "family hour."


"While it's no secret that Victoria's Secret 'The Nakeds' ads are prancing around on major networks leaving little to the imagination, steaming up TV screens and baring nearly everything but their souls, our sultry siren who shows sophisticated sass is somehow deemed inappropriate ... Does this smack of a double standard? Yep. It does to us, too."

What do you think? Let's remember not only do Victoria's Secret commercials air regularly there is also an annual primetime fashion show that airs on CBS.
 
Here's a comparision:
Lane Bryant

 
Victoria's Secret  

 
Perhaps this is just proof that full figured women are sexier than skinny chicks????

Teen Beauty Queen Dies from Stroke

I share this because I had two mini-strokes in my late 20's. I had some risk factors, weight being one of them. This young women didn't seem to have any, unless there was a family history.

Very scary and sad. Grab a tissue before you watch.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Why I waited.

Since 2002 I’ve been in 6 different hospitals in 5 different cities, the total number of admissions I cannot remember. I would guess close to 20. In addition, I have had 4 upper GI’s, 2 colonoscopies, 2 endoscopies, 1 trans-esophageal endoscope, 1 MRI, 5+ Echocardiograms, 6+ CT scans, 1 medi-port placement, 1 medi-port removal, 1 IVC filter placement, 1 IVC filter removal, 2 hernia repairs, 1 PFO (hole in my heart) closure, 3 right to left shunt studies, a bazillion tiny bubbles injected into my veins.


I’m sure I’m missing a few things.

Last year was a “healthy” year. I met only $53 of my yearly deductible, spent 0 days in the hospital for the first time since 2002. For the record, I had NEVER been in the hospital prior to 2002.

So when asked “why did you wait so long to seek treatment?” I can honestly say I didn’t want to go back ‘there’.

I’m not normally one to avoid treatment. Given my medical history I often seek treatment for the things most normal people wouldn’t worry about. When the scale started to creep back up in 2007 I attributed it to stopping the Topamax. When the regain exceeded the amount I had lost while on Topamax I was more concerned, but I had had the tests and been told everything was o.k. inside. I tried to get things under control on my own. When that didn’t seem to be working and I read that my heartburn could be related to a surgery complication and my regain I decided to seek treatment. I saw my PCP first hoping she could do something for me without tossing me back on the medical rollercoaster. Sadly, her response was “that’s not my area, go see the surgeon”.

So I go.

And here we go again…my year of good health was nice while it lasted.

It's not a love seat.

I accompanied a friend to his CT scan this afternoon. I’ve been to this hospital many times, they have recently remodeled the radiology waiting rooms and it was a nice surprise to notice they had a few oversized chairs to accommodate larger patients.

It was annoying and even comical to see two normal sized people approach it as if it was a two seater. One very slim couple successfully sat together. Another set of normal sized adult sisters tried their best to sit together, if I didn’t have manners I would have taken a picture of them squeezed (one half on, half off) in the chair. Eventually, one moved to the next chair. Perhaps the chair should have a fatty label on it.


“Your ass must be at least this wide --------- in order to sit here”

Thankfully, my ass fit comfortably in the regular chair. But it’s nice to know hospitals are thinking.

Information Overload

The internet is such a vast resource of information. That is a good and a bad thing. I like that I can research, but then I always seem to do “this” to myself.

My brain is full of information and I’m obsessing about the “what if’s”. I’m a planner and this crap is messing with my plans.

Will I need to have my hiatal hernia repaired?

If they wrap the top portion of the stomach around to fix it, how will they do that with just a RNY pouch?

How long will recovery be?

I’ve read 7 days in the hospital on one site OMG this is more serious than I thought.

I know these are great questions to ask my surgeon…but I want to know NOW. So I post on a hernia forum, and the one reply I get back FROM A DOCTOR is that the acid reflux is most definitely because of my recent weight gain. Thanks doctor, as if I’ve NEVER been told a medical issue is DUE TO MY WEIGHT. And how many years of medical school did you have to complete to make that great conclusion?

No Chubbies.

I'm watching Dr. Phil. The show today is the Ultimate Fat Debate. There is a guest named Michael Karolchyk, owner of the Anti-Gym who is wearing a shirt that says "No Chubbies". He is the perfect example of what I've found in most commercial gyms. If he thinks he is helping the obesity epidemic with that method he is wrong, however, watching his video I see no obese members of his program. This is what I've found in my quest for assistance with an exercise program, gyms and trainers are for skinny people.


First, most machines cannot accommodate obese (morbidly or super morbidly). Treadmills and elliptical machines do have weight limits, and weight machines don't allow room for big legs and bellies. I started my workouts at 500lbs in the water, my swimsuit didn't fit, but I wore shorts and t-shirt over it because I was determined to get in the pool. However, it can be difficult to find a pool with steps; obese people have a difficult time with pool ladders.

Second, personal trainers don't seem to want to help the obese. I did find Matt at the SOMC Life Center to be helpful, but that was a hospital based gym. At Bally's, LA Fitness, etc, they aren't interested in really helping. I sign up and show up; as soon as I mention I have a medical condition that might limit what I can lift I'm deemed "not willing to try". I do try, I never refused to do a workout, but I notice while I'm working out the trainer is looking at other chicks. I later find out he didn't have the machine seat level properly set for my height. I inquire about water workouts and I'm told "they are not a good workout". Never was asked for detailed medical information. While I was on an upper body weight machine he noticed the scars on my arms and asks "are those surgical scars?" Sure are...and even then he didn't ASK for any further information.

I just mentioned this to a friend last week. I would love to partner with a personal trainer/exercise physiologist and develop REAL workout program for someone with lymphedema/lipedema. I live in Miami; there are tons of trainers around here, anyone interested in the challenge?

Seven

I don’t really believe in luck, well I don’t believe I have any luck…except bad luck.


But if you asked me for a lucky number, I’m going to say 7. I just like that number. I’m #7 in my family, born in 1977.

Today I’m 7 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery and I am lucky to be alive.

I sometimes have to remind myself of that.

Yesterday, I found myself questioning if surgery was worth having. There I was once again having a diagnostic test, my 5th upper GI in 7 years, and I thought “is this what my future will be? How many tests will I need during my life to check for possible complications of surgery?” Then I went to an appointment with a friend who has lost over 150lbs on his own. The receptionist in the office asked him if he had “the surgery” and he replied, “No, my insurance wouldn’t cover it, so I did it the old fashioned way”. I razzed him a bit about saying that, but honestly it doesn’t bother me because everyone is different.

But it did make me think more about if having weight loss surgery was worth it. And the answer is had I not had surgery and lost the weight I did, when I did, I wouldn’t be here typing this right now. The mini-stroke I had in 2004 would have been a full blown stroke and I would have died in my small town hospital. I have many medical issues and only a few have been a result of surgery.

Trifecta

I had an Upper GI this morning and the preliminary findings were reflux, hiatal hernia, and Barrett's esophagus.

I'd first like to send a big THANK YOU to my insurance company who several years ago denied payment for Protonix which I had been on since 8 months after surgery, only stopping for h-pylori treatment and retesting. Continued taking the rest of the prescription, but upon refill was denied. Oh well, I felt o.k. until a year ago when I found myself popping Tums everyday. My PCP then gave me a sample of Nexium and it helped, so I was approved for a year of it via prescription. Well it doesn't completely work now...and now insurance company you have had to pay for an Upper GI and will be paying for an Endoscopy.

Bet that extra Protonix isn't looking so bad right now.

So because I like "the Google"....

Mayo Clinic recommends lifestyle changes for Barrett's esophagus:

• Maintain a healthy weight. Why can't I ever have a condition that says...gain weight???
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Yes, I find myself grazing all day to keep the burning in my throat to a mininum.
• Avoid tightfitting clothes. Woohoo...yoga pants per doctor's orders.
• Eliminate heartburn triggers. Caffeine...NOOOOO!!!!
• Avoid stooping or bending. Stooping? So no dropping it like it's hot?
• Don't lie down after eating. What about while eating...no more breakfast in bed. =(
• Raise the head of your bed. Already sleep on 3 pillows with the top one doubled over.
• Don't smoke. Other than being smokin' hot...this is not a problem.

In Search of Big Girl Panties

I guess I'm starting an "In Search Of" series. I found my Big Girl Bed....now on to underwear!

I know my mama told me to watch what I say on the internet, and perhaps talking about my underwear is over the TMI line, but I’m very upset about this and I know I am not the only one having this issue.


It seems like in the past couple years the quality of panties sold at Plus Size retailers like Lane Bryant and Avenue has greatly decreased. They might as well be selling disposable panties since some pairs have lasted only a couple wears.

I have several pairs of panties from Lane Bryant that I purchased in 2007. They are still in decent shape, just normal wear and stretch of the elastics. However, I noticed when they switched from “Buy 3 get 2 Free” to “5 for $25” they also changed manufacturers and the quality was very poor. At first I passed it off as just the new change, and at that time I did e-mail Lane Bryant and expressed my disappointment. I figured by this time, nearly 18 months since the change, things would be different.

But the quality still sucks.

I need new panties because I’ve gained weight. I bought a bigger size at Lane Bryant in January and as you can see in the picture, the leg band completely detached from the material!

When I went home in January I noticed a pair of LB panties I had bought my mom had the entire backside of the waistband detached from the fabric. I asked if those were an old pair or a pair I had just bought her in November. She replied they were a new pair and that the detachment occurred the second time she wore them. I brought them home with me and they are in my “bitch” pile. The pile now has 4 pair, this is after I tossed several pair. While I find it a bit embarrassing to take panties back to the store, I guess if I’m open enough to write about it on the internet I should be able to go talk to the store manager.

But it’s not just Lane Bryant.

I was talking to a friend and she mentioned she had gone shopping at Avenue and then she expressed her disappointment in the panties she recently purchased. She said the material is very thin and after few wears and washing they fall apart. I shared with her my experience with Lane Bryant.

It’s very disappointing that these stores cater to the Plus Size customer yet can’t seem to provide a product that can hold up to the plus size booty. And you all know we pay a lot more for our clothing, so this is wrong on so many levels. In additon, Charming Shoppes which owns Lane Bryant also owns the other Plus Size stores Fashion Bug and Catherines, and I'm sure the poor quality can be found in those stores.

So where is a big girl to get some decent panties?

Again, I've gained weight and need new panties. So as much as I didn’t want to do it, I bought a 5 pack of Just My Size panties at Wal-mart. I must admit JMS never let my 500lbs ass down. I strayed to Lane Bryant because I loved the cute colors and being able to match my bras with my panties. And at 500lbs I couldn’t fit into the largest size at Lane Bryant. But I can’t be tossing what is now “5 for $29” down the drain on panties that fall apart. A JMS 5-pack was $9.99 and they now do have a variety of colors and styles.

So who else has noticed the poor quality from Lane Bryant and Avenue? What are you wearing?

Click here to send a complaint to Lane Braynt.

Click here to send a complaint to Avenue.

Going Global

Remember when you wanted to go outside and play because being in the house was boring? Now, the idea of kids going for a bike ride or playing tag outside alone is too dangerous. However, I used to ride my bike, walk to school, and play tag (Ghost in the Graveyard) with a group of friends and I was still a fat kid. Note the article states the kids are less active, no where does it state there is also a rise in obesity...that would be interesting to see the correlation.

Nearly Third of Children Globally are Couch Potatoes - From Reuters
Reporting by Anne Harding, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith

American children aren't the only couch potatoes with nearly one third of children globally spending three hours a day or more watching TV or on computers, according to study of over 70,000 teens in 34 nations.


From Argentina to Zambia, Regina Guthold of the World Health Organization in Geneva and her colleagues found most children aren't getting enough exercise and it made no difference if they lived in a rich or a poor country.

"With regards to physical activity levels, we did not find much of a difference between poor and rich countries," Guthold told Reuters Health. "Growing up in a poor country does not necessarily mean that kids get more physical activity."

The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, looking at 72,845 schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 from North and South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The children were surveyed between 2003 and 2007.

The researchers defined adequate physical activity as at least an hour of exercise outside of gym class at least five days a week.

Children who spent three or more hours a day watching TV, playing computer games, or chatting with friends -- aside from time in school or time spent doing homework -- were classified as sedentary.

The researchers found only one quarter of the boys and 15 percent of the girls were getting enough exercise by these definitions.

A quarter of boys and nearly 30 percent of girls were sedentary and didn't get enough exercise with girls less active than boys in every country aside from Zambia.

Uruguay had the highest percentage of active boys, at 42 percent, while Zambia had the lowest, at 8 percent.

Girls from India were the most active, with 37 percent meeting exercise recommendations, while girls from Egypt were the least active, with just 4 percent getting adequate exercise.

Children in Myanmar were the least sedentary, with 13 percent of boys and 8 percent of girls classified as sedentary. The most sedentary nations were St. Lucia and the Cayman Islands, with 58 percent of boys and 64 percent of girls spending at least three hours a day in sedentary activities.

While the study didn't look at the reasons behind the lack of physical activity in various nations, Guthold speculated that urbanization could be a factor as well as access to cars and TVs.

She said schools can help children become more active by having physical education classes and educating students about the importance of exercise.

Adding lanes for bicycles, pedestrian crossings and other changes to promote walking and biking to and from school could help too, she added.

"Even with the limitations that questionnaire data (suffer) from, I guess it's pretty safe to say that we have a huge problem with physical inactivity among schoolchildren around the globe and that we should take action," said Guthold.

It's all relative.

It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, and yet we all know that no two people are the same. I had to remind myself of that while talking to my mom after her recent doctor visit. She was telling me that her various levels are good and that she lost a few pounds since her last visit…then she told me her weight.


Excuse me? What was that?

She repeated it.

OMG, I weigh 80lbs MORE than my mother. My mother who wears 2-3 sizes larger than I wear? The mother who was JUST complaining about a store having neither electric carts or shopping carts so she wasn’t able to shop that long because she needs to either site and ride or push and lean. Now this is the SAME mother who works 12 hours shifts as a nurse, so I’m in no way saying she is lazy. By all means she does what she needs to do no matter how difficult it is for her to physically do it…I am thankful for that trait.

My mother and I are about the same height, I might be an inch taller than her, and of course she is double my age so the years have taken their toll.

But 80lbs?

Where am I hiding it? Oh that’s right in my legs…while my mother does have signs of lymphedema; it’s nowhere near the extent to which I suffer. But still, this makes no sense to me…and it’s not so much the numbers. Nor, is it just my mother. I have read of other people who weigh even 100lbs or more less than me and wear larger sizes. I don’t wear my clothes tight. It just doesn’t make sense, but is an example of why we can’t compare ourselves to others.

Anyone having issues?

Last night I attended my first WLS Support Group meeting since 2006. I am seeing a new surgeon, my third since surgery, and he wanted me to attend his meetings to see if might help me. He had inquired about my support group attendance post-op during my initial appointment. I explained that the hospital where I had my WLS was two hours from where I lived at the time, and so I was only able to attend a couple meetings. I typically either had class, was in the hospital, or recovering from a hospitalization during that first year post-op.

Then I moved to Miami.

After finally getting the recommended surgeon to take me as a patient I was REQUIRED to attend a certain amount of “support meetings”. The requirement and lack of meeting structure lead to a room of new post-ops wanting to get their attendance paper signed and leave. There were no topics, no speakers…just a group of people and a psychologist asking “anyone having issues they would like to discuss?”

Either no one would reply, or the same question would be asked every month…by someone new “am I losing enough weight?”

To someone in my situation, the meetings were not worth the time. I got my support online at ObesityHelp.com. And honestly I did. Even when I attended the two meetings at my original hospital I felt out of place. First, I was usually the only one in attendance that had my surgeon, and second I was the only one who had such a large amount of weight to lose…this correlated with the surgeon issue since my surgeon typically operated on the “high risk” patients. And most people weighing over 500 pre-op have mobility issues, or in general don’t get “out and about” as often as I did. I’m not sure that is the exact reason, but from 3 different surgeon's support meetings at 2 different hospitals I have yet to find people who are in a situation similar to mine…even without the lymphedema and lipedema.

So back to last night…


My first issue was that the meeting was held in the same hospital where I admitted for my DVT, I have not set foot in that hospital since then. The parking garage to hospital entrance is a bit weird, and as I was following the path I had flashbacks to being in pain and near tears trying to “find the hospital” 6 years ago.

While waiting in line at the security desk I played “are they here for the meeting too?” I get my visitor sticker and head to the conference room. But first I stop and get a bottle of Diet Sunkist at the snack bar. It was the BBGC in me…and I was thirsty.

So I get to the conference room and sign-in. The group leader, the surgeon’s nutritionist, was getting out his recent delivery of calcium chews. I say “oh, I have those at home they are good. But I haven’t tried the raspberry.” He was very nice, and I was impressed that there were samples at the meeting. There was also FOOD. Cheese and fruit platter for the win. I had run an errand before the meeting and while I had eating a protein bar before leaving my house, a few hours had passed since.

I sit next to another lady and ask her when she had surgery. “5 weeks ago”

Oh no…here we go….or so I thought. To my surprise there were 2 other patients there who were 7 years post-op, like ME. Unlike me, both appeared to be at goal.

The topic for the evening was “how to read food labels”. I was the star pupil by knowing that serving size the most important piece of information on the label. Next he passed out samples of the calcium, raspberry is pretty tasty! Then he opened the floor to general discussion “anyone having issues?”

A new post-op is having issues tolerating food and wonders if she is losing weight fast enough.

I raise my hand, and say I’m having the opposite issue. I can tolerate everything and that after my initial 250lbs loss, I’ve started to regain. I also let the nutritionist know I had an appointment to see him next month.

I forget his response to my issue, I think because he was interrupted the male 7-year post-op patient who said. “You know what I’ve noticed is there a correlation between members who regain and members who don’t attend support group meetings.”

I guess it’s better than him calling me out for my Diet Sunkist.

Trying to not sound defensive, I said “I’ve noticed that many people in my situation are often too embarrassed to seek help from their surgeon or a support group.”

Then the nutritionist said, “O.k. are you all ready to go next door?”

Next door? Huh? Oh, the post-ops go over the pre-op seminar and answer questions. Nice.

Honestly, I didn’t mean to not go, I stopped to ask the nutritionist what he would like for me to bring to my appointment then once I got next door, I saw all the other post-ops on stage, announcing how long it had been since their surgery and how much they had lost. OMG I was definitely NOT going on stage, especially since I weighed MORE than many of the pre-op patients. And, of course, I had not had surgery with that doctor so I really shouldn’t appear to be one of his products.

So as I listened to everyone’s stats…the average amount lost was 130lbs. That’s how much I’ve lost, even with the regain; I’m still down 130lb from my highest….at 7 years out.

Making Waves

I went to water aerobics at the YMCA tonight. I took a friend with me. I kicked his ass, nearly had to save him in the deep end. It was reminiscent of when we got caught in the riptide last April. He blamed the flotation device, not sure if he meant the float belt or well um…I’ll be nice. =) Sure fat floats, but that’s part of the skill of deep water exercise is using your core muscles to balance and control your movements.


After class, I went to the members’ desk and asked if I could get a refund for credit for my dance class. I filled out the form, stating my reason as “class above my skill level”. Hopefully, I’ll at least get partial credit.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Tonight Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution debuts on ABC.


The series focuses on the people of Huntington, West Virginia. In 2008, Huntington was named the Nation's Unhealthiest City.

I am particularly interested in watching because I grew up just an hour down river from Huntington. I would guess that my hometown was used in calculating the over all tri-state area level of health. A sad reality I've noticed when I grocery shop at home is that the healthier foods I buy cost more in my hometown than they do here in Miami. Only recently has the WIC program covered fresh fruits and vegetables. I look forward to see what progress Jamie was able to make, and how many eyes across the nation will be opened.

So you think I can dance?

Well, I did at least try…and that’s what counts, right?

Last night was the first night of my Beginner Adult Ballet/Modern dance class at the YMCA. This is the class I mentioned being excited about, but has to switch sessions because I was sick and was going to be out of town and didn't want to miss two classes of the last session.

So it was me, woman who minored in dance, and the instructor.

There was a kid’s movie event in the next room so we had an audience through the windows…and yes one kid stood with his face against the glass staring at us almost the entire time.

Things started out well. Warm up stretches seated on the floor. Pass.

Then she brought out the bar. Plies, position 1, 2 and 3…foot ON the bar. Total PASS!

Next…jumps. This is where the beginner part ended and I felt like WTH? Total modification time. Just bounce instead of full jump…and it was still a FAIL.

Ballet over time for Modern…Skip jumps! Diagonal across the entire studio. So we’re jumping and running. OMG

So I reach back into my kindergarten days and remind myself how to skip. And I give it the old college try. My 4 jumps would barely get me ½ across the studio while they made it all the way across. But surprisingly I wasn’t any more short of breath than they were.

Ok now skip jump forward, and kick slide backs. Near collision. FAIL

And finally choreography time. Because this is session II of Spring, they have already been working on this during session I and for Fall the YMCA rented a theater and all the classes performed.

Uh, I don’t think so.

While class is wrapping up, I see my normal Friday night water aerobics crew head to the outdoor pool and I thought “why the hell am I in here when I’d rather be out there?” And I could have taken my bathing suit and joined the other class late, but for the first night I wanted to just see how things went.

As I’m walking out I notice the “sponsor” of studio.

Not sure if I will return. Not their fault. Just doesn’t seem to be the right fit.

March is DVT Awareness Month

DVT stands for Deep Vein Thrombosis. Click here to assess your risk for DVT.


My personal experience with DVT occurred in September 2004. I developed a severe case of cellulitis in my legs and was admitted to the hospital. Because the symptoms of a DVT are similar to those of cellulitis doctors typically ordered an ultrasound of my legs to “rule out DVT”. Now for those of you, who think the pressure of an ultrasound is uncomfortable, imagine that pressure when your legs are in burning pain. So during this particular ultrasound I hear the tech say “no venous flow”. I asked her if I had a clot and she replied “the doctor has to give you the results”. Well of course I knew enough that “no venous flow” meant there was a blood clot and as soon as I was taken back to my room the doctor came in can confirmed. I had both cellulitis and a DVT in my left leg. I was given heparin and antibiotics via IV and was in the hospital for 10 days.

That was just the beginning….

Two months later, I had been cleared to receive compression therapy for my lymphedema. One morning as I drove to my appointment the entire left side of my face felt numb. I told this to my occupational therapists and I could tell by their response something was wrong. They were concerned if I would be able to safely drive back to work. I assured them I was o.k. and promised to call my doctor. I called the doctor when I got back to my office. Her office partner told me to go the ER if the symptoms did not improve, but given my age and that I was on Coumadin, she did suspect a stroke.

The symptoms went away so I didn’t worry.

Until a few months later when I woke up and my right arm felt like it was asleep and nothing I did would make it “wake up”. I went to my doctor and she ordered a CT scan of my head. The scan showed evidence of a stroke, but in the right side of my brain, so since strokes affect the opposite side of the body it was still unclear what was happening. My doctor referred me to a neurologist.

The neurologist suspected the episodes were TIAs (Trans ischemic attack) or mini-stroke. Thankfully, this was after I had lost nearly 200lbs or I’m sure things would have been much worse. Next, the neurologist ordered blood work, ultrasounds of the vessels in my head and neck and a consult with a cardiologist.

I tested negative for Factor v Leiden, which I knew I would, my family are bleeders not clotters. After a full blood work up I tested negative for any clotting issue.

The ultrasounds all came back clear. My vessels were fine. However, the shunt study showed that tiny saline bubbles injected into my veins were traveling to my brain.

Tiny bubbles….

Were crossing through a hole in my heart, bypassing my lungs and going straight to my brain. Just like the tiny little blood clot did. This was all confirmed by the cardiologist, who did an echo cardiogram and also injected tiny saline bubbles and saw them cross from one chamber of my heart to another.

I was 28 years old and they were just discovering that I was born with PFO (patent foramen ovale) a hole in my heart.

Thankfully, after further consultation among all my doctors the hole was easily closed with a tiny screen via a catheter.

It took nearly a year for the hole to completely heal over. I have several more bubble studies, until finally one day there were no more tiny blips on the screen which indicated bubbles. I was so relieved I broke in tears. It had been a nearly 18 month ordeal.

I am thankful that today everything is “normal”. I will always be at higher risk for blood clot and the numerous infections have damaged the vessels and valves in my legs. However, my neurologist and cardiologist have given me a clean bill of health and say I’m at no higher risk of a stroke than any other person of my weight and age…wait is that good?

I take a daily aspirin, stay hydrated, and take extra precaution when flying or taking long car rides. While the ordeal was quite scary at times, I now look at it as a blessing in disguise. Had I not had the DVT and TIA, the PFO would have not been discovered and closed.

Ri-FRICKIN-diculous

Originally posted on my HealthInsuranceBitch blog.

It has been more than a year since I got my last pair of compression garments for my lymphedema. One pair. I should get two pair every six months. Since I should have a pair to wash and a pair to wear each day and the elasticity begins to wear out after six months. But as hard as it is to get one pair I have NEVER gotten four pair a year. Instead I wear the one pair I have over again for several days and then wash them and hope they are dry by the next morning. At least at this point in time I have some old pairs that I can wear, even if it means the worn out elasticity will allow my legs to swell, it’s still less than swelling than if I wore no garments at all.

I bring this up because I’ve had my garments for a year and yet my DME provider has yet to be paid. I’m past due for a new pair and yet I how can I get another pair when the provider hasn’t been paid from last year?

Oh sure, I could just pay out pocket. However, I’m currently paying COBRA out of pocket because I’m out of work. It’s more difficult to find a job when you have a chronic condition affecting your legs. If I could go work at Target or Home Depot and be on my feet all day I would. But I cannot.

The better option would be if my insurance company would follow their OWN policy and pay the claim.

Here’s the issue…and your lesson for the day, so get a pen and paper.

NETWORK GAP COVERAGE

Since my insurance company has no in-network provider within a 50 mile radius of my home that can provide the medically necessary treatment my doctor prescribes my insurance company has to cover an out-of-network provider at my in-network benefit level.

Understand? I do. Obviously they don’t. Despite going over it EVERY YEAR…they still don’t seem to understand.

Due to the size and shape of my legs, my compression garments have to be custom fitted. Once made custom fitted garments cannot be altered. So if the measurements are not taken correctly, the $300 pair of garments are a waste of time and money. For this reason, the company only takes orders from certified fitters whom they train. So if a provider has no employees who are certified fitters, they cannot provide my garments for me.

My search begins with cross referencing the garment company’s list of certified fitters with my insurance company’s list of DME providers within a 50 mile radius of my home. That list indicated there were no DME providers in my network that could provide the garment I needed. To double check I called every DME provider on my insurance company’s list. I documented who I spoke with, and asked if they were able to provide the specific custom fitted garment I need. They all said no.

So then I contact my insurance company and request that I can go out of network at in-network benefit level. This process has gone different ways. A previous insurance company agreed and my out of network provider filed the claim and was paid. My current insurance company would not authorize, and the provider was leery of accepting direct payment because of past issues with the company. So I paid out of pocket and with the assistance of the provider filed the claim with all my documentation for reimbursement from the insurance company.

Last year, well about 13 months ago, in the hopes of saving the round-a-bout hassle that every time comes back to “there is no in-network provider”, I asked if the insurance company would just pre-authorize me to go out of network. I was told I would have to file the claim and appeal.

An appeal only costs me time and a stamp, while it costs the insurance company time and an hourly wage to pay some to process it. When in the end I will win, it’s been established, I am right in this matter. So since my employer is self-insured I asked if the Benefits Administrator could order my insurance company to give the pre-authorization. I was told yes.

So I spoke with the Benefits Administrator about the issue. She knew me well, as I have filed and won other appeals. She knows I know my stuff and I’m not asking for anything unnecessary. She said “send me and e-mail”. I sent her the details. And within a few days I had a case manager calling me to set things up with authorization and wanting to make sure I got exactly what I needed. I should have known NOTHING IS THAT EASY.

That was March 2009, fast forward to February 2010, I get a phone call from my garment provider stating my insurance had denied the claim, and all their appeals…even though they had an authorization number.

I was pissed.

I immediately call the insurance company and was told that the claim was processed as out of network and therefore I would owe my out of network deductible. I corrected them and explained the authorization from the Benefits Administrator indicated it had to be processed as in-network. The woman claimed the authorization never specified in-network. WTH, there would be no need for the Benefits Administrator to intervene in the matter if this was a normal out of network claim.

So I e-mail the Benefits Administrator, recap the entire situation. She replies back the next day and cc’d someone from the insurance company. The next day the woman from the insurance company replies and apologizes for the mistake and states the claim will be reprocessed correctly and the provider paid. That was February 2, 2010.

I wait a couple weeks and checked my claims online. No changes. I call the provider; they state they did receive the information but still no payment.

So today, I check my claims online. No changes. I call the provider. No payment.

I fired off yet another e-mail to Benefits Administrator and woman from the insurance company. I remind them that by wearing my compression garments I SAVE them money because the garments have reduced my hospitalizations due to cellulitis.

Ri-FRICKIN-diculous