I Can't Sleep, Can't Walk, Can't Breathe - I Need Help!

Denise - Age 38
Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery 2-14-02

AGE 43 - UPDATED 4/24/08
Ovarian Cancer Added As Well

272 lbs. 220 lbs 165 lbs.

This webpage was made only to serve as an example of what can happen should you choose to have weight loss surgery. It is my personal journey and NOT an endorsement of anything or anyone. I pray that it may help you.

I decided in Oct 2001 that I would do this no matter what - I know that God has meant for me to have this surgery. I even told everyone I was having surgery on Feb 14, 2002. But so far I havent picked a surgeon. The first one we (my best friend and I are doing this together - we are a team!) found one doctor that accepted her insurance and not mine so we are still looking.

While surfing around a WLS (weight loss surgery) website, I found Dr. Capella in Ramsey. At first his office said they didnt except Oxford (Liberty Plan) but again thanx the WLS website, I found that others had used Capella who had Oxford, So I called his office again and explained this to them, they said "turn over your insurance card - if it has 'MAGNACARE' on it - we accept Oxford". MINE DID! and they accepted Guardian also (thats Sue's Ins.) so we made appts for Jan. 2, 2002. 2 months from...Cant wait.

It's a miracle! I was approved the very first try without any prior medical history and no life threatening illness. I know this is God's Will for me, I dont have a date yet but I am sure it will be Feb 14, 2002 - dont ask how I know - I just know. Sue however, has been denied - they want her to prove 3 yrs of medical supervised weight loss treatment and have a psychological evaluation. She is very upset, but I told her to chimn up - its not IF you'll get the surgery its just WHEN. In God's timing.

I got a date for my surgery! - Well I opted for the TUMMY TUCK DURING SURGERY. Dr. Capella felt that my "folds" were perfect for removing and offered to do so during my surgery for another $4000, saving me some $6000 on a future surgery. Well - I bargained with him - i GOT IT FOR $3000, WHAT A BARGAIN! Strange thing though - they gave me Feb 28, 2002 for my surgery - I know this cant be right, its supposed to be 2/14/02. But God know's what he is doing. Sue was denied a second time - she is appealing.

You wont believe this, they just called me and changed my surgery date to - you guessed it - FEB 14, 2002. OMG thats only 2 weeks from now. I am 269 lbs. I can breathe, I can't walk, I cant wait!

FEB 14, 2002 - SURGERY DAY - Got to the hospital at 5 am for surgery at 7. I am the first one up (the Doctors Capella - father & son team) do 4-5 every Monday & Thursday, always do the one 1 bypass/tummy tuck first. It waill take longer than just the bypass (45 minutes) mine will take a little over an hour. I am nervous but I am ready. My son is very worried, because everyone we know in the last few years that entered the hospital has gone on to be with the Lord. But now that i have the date I know I was meant to have, I am sure I am meant to also survive. See you on the losing side!!!

WOW that operating room was COLD!!! In the blink of an eye they were waking me up in recovery. No tubes up my nose or down my throat. No complications. My mouth is very dry. My tongue is hard as a rock. They use pink "q-tips" that are wet to moisten it but say I can't swallow any water, and no I cant have any ice. Thank God for the wet swabs. I am lucky I am going to my own room at 3:00. I had to move myself from the gurney to my bed, there was somew pain, but mostly just really weak. Within the hour they had me out of bed and going to the bathroom. Now that was a little harder. Not the walking just the getting up and down. My incision is what seems 3 feet long and all stampled up. But I dont feel it, my muscles hurt though. No Ice or water yet - but I got my swabs!
Second day - i got crushed ice! and my swabs. I dont feel hungry. Getting up and down to bathroom - each time gets a little easier. But still painful muscles, but no pain in the stomach or the incision, amazingly enough.

DAY 3 - I got tea, ice water and swabs! Still doing well. Not hungry, no pain. Everything is great. Dr. Capella comes in every morning very early and says I am doing well. They cut off some 8 lbs of flab from my stomach and its FLAT!!! They even moved my belly button. Looked in the mirror today - MY APPRENDECTOMY SCARE IS GONE - they cut it off!!! Thats a riot.

Day 4 - Loving this vacation. I am still int he hospital because i need the little hose passed under my nose for oxygen, seems that even though I only smoked for a few years and only a pack a week, AND I quit some 9 years ago, the damage I did to my lungs has not healed, i need the little exztra oxygen, but the good news is I get to stay - I know that sounds crazy to some, but to me its like a vacation. I takes long walks down the halls and visit other patients. I eat jello and lots of crushed ice and hot tea. Even brothe. The only yukky thing is that I got my period off schedule and I am not wearing panties so I use a washcloth folded up - since they didnt cut any flab off my legs, it just stays in place during my walk.

Absolutely no problems or complications so I am going home tomorrow - ugh! lol but my son and husband are happy about that. George (my husband) has bought me a craftmatic adjustable bed from an estate sale so I can get up and down from bed easier.

Day 5 - Going Home - I cant believe I have so much stuff! The only bad part of the hospital visit happened on the way out. They brought me a regular wheelchair, i got in it, but when I got out _ OUCH it hurt like hell, the staples caught - BE SURE TO INSIST UPON A LARGER SIZE CHAIR NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU GOTTA WAIT.

Home now. Eatting jello, brothe and tea. Not hungry, no pain, just still sore muscles. I got a flat tummy though!

In 6 weeks I am eatiing normally, mostly soups and cheeses and fruits. Losing inches and sizes. Started out size 28 and now I am 22. Bought all new clothes - big mistake, most of them didnt fit me 2 weeks later I am size 20. Went swimming at the local pool. everything a-ok.

April 20, 2002 - Sue got her surgery. All went well - now we are a team again. She started out at 249 5 ft. 1 in. and did not get the tummy tuck.

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Mothers Day - May 2002 - I signed up for a Motorcycle course. It was c gruelling hard work, 10 hrs a day for 2 days. BUT i passed the course and got my motorcyle license. Now I am a motorcycle mama!!!

Easter, my own father did not recognize me when I walked into the restaurant for Easter Dinner. That was great - he even cried. I felt like every one in the place was looking at me. I must say I look preet damn good and I am sure my constant smiling isnt hurting me any...lol Thank you Lord, this saved my life and Gave me Life all at the same time.

June 11, 2002 - 4 mos. post opt. - Went to the beach - THE NUDE BEACH for our 15 year anniversary. I went topless in the ocean, it was great. I know I am still a size 18 - but I feel so great AND SO FREE that I JUST HAD TO TRY it. Down 65 lbs

Sept. 7, 2002 - SIZE 16 by my birthday I love it!!!

Thanksgiving - amazed everyone again at the big dinner. Places I got where people knew me so well - NO ONE RECOGNIZES ME! I have to convince them that it is me. Its a wonderful day in the neighborhood!
New Years 2003 - DOWN 110 lbs. Size 14-16.

My goodness I cant believe I am actually going to hit my original goal of 150 by my 1 year anniversary - I dont think I honestly believed when I got the surgery that this was REALLY going to happen. It really did! I feel great, I look great. I feel so alive!

I have the coolest clothes, but not to many cause I keep growing out of them. I buy them tight and by the time I wear them, they are too big!!! I am not losing to much weight now, but my body is re-shaping itself BEAUTIFULLY almost daily. I am not being all full of myself when I say that men are falling all over me. My husband isnt too thrilled by that BUT I AM!!!. My son says I am going thru a mid-life crisis cause I have the coolest shoes and clothes, like a tennager... i feel young so why not. Sometimes I forget that I am lighter when I get up from the couch and FLING myself clear across the room. Then I laugh till I cry - its wonderful.

I seem to be buying lots of shoes size 6 1/2 (from 8) and cute undies size 7-8 (from 16). I only shop in reguler stores and off the rack now.

I have a Flat tummy, an hour glass figure, and I am happy and healthy. Spreading the word - this surgery saved my life and gave me life. I am planning a ski trip next month and HANG-GLIDING in the spring!

NOTE: I didnt stick to a diet, I ate basically the same stuff I did before, just no where's near as much and of course a lot slower and colder than before. I didnt keep to any sort of excercise program either. But another friend of mine did both correctly and she lost 175 lbs in her first year and her body is scultured beautifully. I am afraid I will need the body lift to look decent naked. But for now - In clothes I look F-I-N-E.

MAY 2003 - WOW its so cool.... everywhere i go, people that I knew for years just dont even recognize me until AFTER I talk to them, ALOT!!!

Down to 155 lbs. - Just 20 more pounds to go!

THANK YOU LORD!!!

Feel free to write me with questions, I would love to help if I can

Here is the story about the family that lost 1000 lbs using my Dr. Capella of Ramsey featured on ABC News 20/20, Dateline and even in popular magazines:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/community/DailyNews/chat_gastricbypass040802.html

Here is a link to the info about Carnie Wilson's type of surgery:

http://www.suburbansurgicalcare.com/Pages/bypassbody.html

My friend used Dr. Benotti. - He lost 100 lbs in 10 weeks
he started at 475 and his Blue Cross/Blue Shield paid for ALL of it: http://www.peterbenottimd.com

Here are great places to check out all kinds of info about the various types of surgery:

http://www.morefoundation.org http://www.obesityhelp.com/

Here is the best place to read directly from the thousands of people who have had the various types of surgery. Most are truly wonderful stories, some (a few) are tragic mostly because it was tried so late when they had so many other health problems: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/index.phtml

Finding the right doctor for you is the key. I swear by both Dr. Capella and Dr. Benotti as I have known their patients personally with great success. With Benotti or Capella - within one year you are called "skinny" by other women in dept stores! and when I say a year, I really mean that within 6-8 weeks, people dont recognize you.

My own father didnt know me at a restaurant only 10 weeks after surgery, It made him cry, It made me ecstatic with Joy!!!

Feel free to write me with questions, I would love to help if I can. God Bless You, Denise

272 lbs. Feb 10, 2002 264 lbs. Feb 21. 2002 220 lbs. July 2002 175 lbs. Nov. 2002
1 wk BEFORE Surgery (Sz 28) 1 wk AFTER surgery 5 Mos (Sz 18-20) 9 mos (Sz 14-16)

UPDATE 2005 - steady weight and size about 8-10 for several years now so...

When I suddenly gained 12 lbs, Surgery was needed to remove of 12 lbs of endometriosis tomors and such, which I would never have known was growing under all my fat. In fact, at 145 they thought i was anorexic and did not take me seriously for 3 months, and in that time, i nearly lost my eyesight because of a very low blood count that Hackensack Medical Center called me 3 weeks AFTER i had taken the test and stated that I needed an emergency transfusions as I was just under 6 and they transfuse at 8. I promptly informed that that if I survived 3 weeks during this so called emergency, i was pretty much good to go. But after a month another month of pleading and 2 failed vaginal biopsy attempts ( i say attempts because it was so overgrown that they couldnt even get a seringe in for a sampling. Even thoen I got them to order a catscan BUT she did not order it stat, I'd have to wait another 6 weeks, I finally put my foot down and insisted on stat when she so coldly said, whats your hurry, you've been bleeding for over 20 yrs now? (referring to my very reg heavy flow periods, oh did I mention first they tried to give me a lupron shot to stop my period and so call "save some of my blood" even though it stayed in your system for at least 2 years and has a high risk of allergy triggering.- can u imagine they wanted to shoot me up with something they didnt even believe was wrong with me to begin with, then were totally wrong with in diagnosis and had the nerve to ask what was my hurry) I started complaining in Sept. I had the catscan in late feb, one week later, the doctor said it was the worst he had even seen *obviously i fired her! 12 lbs were removed. Tomors 1 the size of a football, 2 the sizes of softballs and 3 the sizes of baseballs. and if that wasnt bad enough it was all intertwined like a giant spider caccoon from my 3rd rib and down in every possible space in my abdomen and had started growing down my leg.

BUT they were very clear no cancer and this could never grow back. Aagin, good thing i was thin enough to recognize the weightgain as out of balance with my intake. If you eat right healthy after your sergery, you will NEVER gain weight like that agin. I was and am responsible in that I dont DRING ICE CREAM< FLOATS< SODA OR ICE CRAEAM - these stretch you stomach and allow you to begin to overeat and stretch it even further until you are back in the same boat. So dont do it - almost everything else enjoy to the max and look good doing it!

UPDATE 2007 - March 135 lbs and going to BIKE WEEK in daytona.
...almost died because 3 drs and $1700 in tests said I was fperfectly healthy, just my good chloresterol was atiny bit low... I was days from death and thats no exaggeration!

Packed my clothes, all kinda tight. Unpacked 5 hrs later and things started fitting ral nicely, but the end of the week everything it big, i lost 5 lbs in a few days while eatting 5 times a day but small and healthy foods. Even had a little icecream on a stick and when i took 2 or 3 bites, i threw the rest away otherwise, big palpitations, sweats, dumping and everything else.. but when I did, 2 overweight young woman spoke one to the other and called ME a "skinny bitch". At first I was going to tell them about how I got to be this wway and then, i felt hurt, but then i felt JOY! - oh I have been called a fat bitch more times than any of us can count, but never a SKINNY BITCH...it was cool. Then I flew home.LOOKING LIKE A MILLION DOLLAR SKINNY BITCH. but withing 2 days I had suddenly gained 10 basically overnight. I thought I was constipated and maybe I did eat too muc and gained weight but it hurt - it was growing so fast I actually started wearing maternity pants. so i went to my family office and the "intern" Dr. Jill from the offices of Dr.Michael Weiner Saddlebrook told me I had gained 10 overnight merely from gas, go home and take gas-x. But I insisted on testsw, i explained about my last large weight gain and surgery and that my brother passed suddenly from cancer and still said it was just gas. But not for nothing (pardon my italianisms) but if i gained 10 POUNDS of GAS, I would have to be the size of the goodyear blimp. I mean dont they teach you basic science in dr school, gases as LIGHT. She never called to give me the results as soon as they came in (the next day according to test lab who verified delivery) and I called and called - and since i doubted her I went to see Dr. Capeela SR. Who promplt told me I had gas and that I should let people make me eat so much and then the unthinkable. He said, But I can lift this and make it pretty right here (as he lifted my 12 inch long , 1 in thick breast by the nipple and rested it up where it belonged. I assured him I couldnt have gained 10 lbs in gas overnight and again he dismissed my concerns and he too offered gas -x.

I didnt trust this either, so I go to Dr Abdulghani, the gyno who did my big 2005 endo/tumor surgery. Keep in mind that I have returned to him 3 times in the past 2 years and told him it was definately growing back. He assured me - it could nver grow back and never ordered the tests. He truly thought i had an abstruction in my intestimes due to the bypass and I should go to a specialist. It had been a week since all this started and I was growing bigger daily, and the pain was incredible, it wasnt gas even I knew that but none of the drs did - they all thought I was anorexic and lying about my fast gains and ignored a very basic simple symptom called ascites, all of them - but I did think it could be intestinal so I called that spec. and he wanted 850 just to see me plus tests. I said thats it I am going to the emergency room. In 15 minutes, they took a catscan - knew exactly what I had and was on my way to surgery to reduce the fluid buidup low enough to get in there and fully operate.

Denise's Battle w/ Ovarian Cancer

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3-20-08- RESULTS ARE IN - We had a terrible, horrible, rotten, low down, miserable, very bad day, but we will not let that get us down.

I started yet another type of chemo as it is still growing, in fact there had been no shrinking at all and thee is additional radioactive uptake. Good thing I MADE them take both of those tests NOW, all my numbers were always good but the tests show whats real - the good and the bad. I am learning that I have to tell them what to do or else, they miss stuff left and right. The new chemo is once a week every week for 6 weeks... Today's made me very sick but I still expect to have Level 3 completed ON TIME. Thank you for your prayers and letters and gifts and cards. They give me such a lift : )

3-14-08- LAST TEST TAKEN - Now we wait...
Petscan 3/10; Catscan 3/14/08 - in the meanwhile, I had emergency oral surgery 3-11-08, Dr. Steven Lilian of Rochelle Park, NJ gave me a very fair self pay price and fixed me up great.

3-11-08 INSURANCE worked out, all tests scheduled, we will know everything on March 20, in the meanwhile, I had to have emergency oral surgery, Dr. Steven Lilian of Rochelle Park, NJ gave me a very fair self pay price and fixed me up great.

3-1-08 INSURANCE PROBLEMS - all medical work stopped.
Just when we are sure it FINALLY STARTING TO WORK, we are told we can't go on without insurance, of course how can you buy another policy once you have a diagnosed disease i just dont know.

2/27/08 - ITS FINALLY WORKING!!! For the first time, the tumors are actually shrinking and fast. Denise had a pretty rough 3nd round too. The next one is March 20, 2008. They want to do tests March 14. I have great hope and faith that we are starting to get this thing on the run. Thank you Lord!

DENISE had SURGERY NOV 12 to remove more ovarian cancer and was rushed back to the Dr in Dec - there are fast growing lymnodes. Dec 27, She started another regiment of chemo, something different.

1/1/08 - Submitted by Denise
The OVARIAN CANCER IS BACK, actually, it never went away, it's been growing all along...

Dear Friends & Family, Although I just finished 6 months of intensive chemo on 10/01/07, I remain hopeful while stating, that I have started a New Chemo Treatment Plan. They will try several types until they find one that works. Here's how it all played out:
10/23/07 - PETSCAN: A routine test after chemo, hoping for the all clear that all the drs expected, but the news was bad on 10/26.
11/12/07 - Surgery removed 6 spots: But they had to leave some more flecks behind . But I felt like something wasnt right.
12/07/07 - I was rushed back to the Dr. with a lot of pain on and got another CATSCAN on 12/14/07, which quickly confirmed very fast growing lymnodes. 12/19/07 We got a new Dr and he sent me for a Heart test for the new chemo drugs directly affect the heart muscle.
12/27/07 - CHEMO STARTED TODAY - something different. Let's see how it works. Like the Dr says, It is what it is...

Thank you - I appreciate all your cards, letters, flowers, prayers and most of all your encouraging stories & well wishings. They really help, denise.

MORAL TO ALL THESE STORIES: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST DOCTOR _ FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO BE LISTENED TO AND THEN ACTED UPON BASAAED ON YOU AND YOUR ATRUE CONDIATION> MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND -YOU PAT THEM - MAKE THEM ORDER A CATSCAN FOAR ANY AND EVERYTHING> By the time they can see it on the catscan -n you got cancer or benign tumors all out of control. and if its cancer, its end stage, EARLY DETECTION IS THE KEY - thats what they tell us and then they delay us at every turn while the guess cookiecutter answers based on what they decided to listen to.

ALWAYS, ALWAAYS ALWAYS, insist on a catscan and if you have ever had cancer, always insist on the PETSCAN AND THE CATSCAN together. AS they gave me surgery based only on the petscan, then they catscaned me after the surgery (2 weeks) and found they could have cut out a whole lot more cancer had they known it was there. Dont feel like you will hurt their feeling or anything - let them "practice" on someone else. ITS YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE
ALWAYS INSIST ON A CATSCAN at least ONCE A YR - call today and make an appt to see your gyn and make him get you a catscan so you have your first maker.

Like I said, by the time theOvarian Cancer - its already endstage and hard to get a hold of, hell I in in the #1 ranked cancer center on the whole east coast voted by the medical publications, and would you believe they only have 1 dr that deals oin ovarian, and not as her specialty either.

MY PERIODS WERE ALWAYS NORMAL< RIGHT ON TIME TO THE MINUTE< 8 FULL HEAVY FLOW DAYS.

In 2005 THEY REMOVED ALL MY OVARIES AND EVERYTHING RELATAED to them. YET 2 years later I get ovarian cancer with NO overies while the gyn is promising me it cant grow back. A simple catscan in 2006 would have caught me in stage 1 and very curable.

Please even if you have NO sysmptoms of any kind or any cancer in your family - get the catscan, make them do a petscan if there is ANY sign of cyst tumor, growth or spot.