July 26th - Univision Interview

So I had my interview with "Univision". The whole process was just crazy/funny/overwhelming...all in that order!

I went to the Bariatric Center in Melrose Park and the reporter and her camera man were about an hour late. I left work early for nothing. Actually they were so late that the surgeon, Dr. Chand wasnt even interviewed. The only one's interview were myself, Yvette the nurse coordinator (she's such an awesome person inside and out) and this new psychologist Dr. Wool. I met her for the first time today.

When the news reporter (Gladys) got there, she started setting up, asking questions here and there and  we began taping. My Spanish was horrific and is showed but it is what it is! She was very kind and perfessional and overall I think she made the experience very calm? Is that the word I want to use? I dunno, all I know is that I was super-duper nervous and sweating bullets! To be in a "SURE" commercial was completely outta the question!!!

I recieved a few texts here and there during the news presentation and it was hilarious. It made me smile because they all had positive feedback, even my mom said something nice about me. With that being said, here is the video for that day as well as a picture with Gladys the report. Enjoy!

July 23rd...

My last blog I think was at the begging of July, my weight and whatnot. Not much as been exciting enough to "blog home about" but just a few notes reflecting towards the beginning of July. July 12th my girls went to the Bon Jovi Concert. I gave them that present for their birthdays. I think they had fun, what do you think?

I had my follow-up testing done on Saturday 20th. You will recall that I had a mammogram which showed some abnormalities. These abnormalities were found to be numerous cysts. I suppose that is normal because they were not concerned with it. They however were concerned with a not-so-cystic-looking mass on my left breast. You guessed it, additional tests need to be done. That would take place Monday, July 22nd. You recall that the whole mammogram process was very humiliating for me. Today was no exception to the rule. The same nurses assisted me with my "boob" and then it gets interesting, not only would my "FNA=fine needle aspiration" would take place by a male doctor, two first year residents would be also checking out the "boob". I was crying when the nurse told me that "Dr. Cooper" would be doing the procedure and after I asked if it was a lady, she confirmed to me that Dr. Cooper is a man. Yep, started crying! This 15-minute procedure winded up being 2 1/2 hours. The probing, the touching, the force that one endures these procedures, in one word "frightening". I know have a clear bandage of the sort, bloody, very tender, and just not what I expected in having my very first mammogram. I am bleeding through my bandaid, I am sore and very tender.  I don't even think I'm scared of the outcome. I don't have an ill feeling in the pit of my stomach. Don't get me wrong, I am thinking about it but I have always said that my death would come in the form of cancer. I don't know why I feel that, I just always have. I have thought of the "what if" it is cancer and I'm okay with it. I say that right now and I'm assuming that I'll be more passionate about it in thought later if positive. I have thought of the whole mastectomy procedure, chemo/radiation, and anything else that cancer involves. I have also thought about declining treatment. I dunno, just a thought that ran through my head. I guess Friday I will find out my results. God is playing 50/50 with me, a game that I don't know the rules of.

My daughter Veronica had an interview on July 22nd as well. I suppose things went well. She didn't wait around for me after her interview. I went to have my procedure while she went on her interview. Naturally I didn't tell her of the procedure. No one knows. She only knows that I have cysts nothing else. I'm not sure if I mentioned I got a puppy 2 weeks ago. As fast as I got her as fast as I had to let her go. No one in the house wanted to help me out with her while I was at work and it was truly unfair to the puppy if I yelled at her for her wrong doings. Naturally all three of my lovely children had such nice things to say to me. "Your ignorant, your pathetic, your selfish, your this and your that". Never did I ever receive such mental abuse at one time. Needless to say, they are not talking to me now. I winded up giving Charlie to my brother. I whole-heartily believe that he was meant for him. The day I got her and took her to see him, he fell in love with her. He told me a German Shepard would be his next dog if he had the money. In earlier posts, I said God works things a certain way for us and Charlie was meant for my brother. I broke my heart to make the decision and I cried as I walked away but I'm happy to know that he will take care of her and I can see her anytime I want. Today's my husband's birthday and I'm praying that they don't ruin his day only because that means I'll be more stressed.

I spoke to my insurance rep last week, July 25th and they stated that the approval letter was en route to my physician's office. Plastic physician that is. I contacted the office and they stated that they cannot do anything until that letter is received. So yay!!! I'm gonna have my tummy surgery! I'm gearing towards the 3rd week of August. I've even thought of having a mastectomy at that time by the same surgeon (if I need one). Told ya I've been preparing myself for worse news. Force of habit I suppose.

Lastly, I will be interviewing with "UNIVISION" under the medical segment and that will take place on Friday, July 26th. I believe they will show the segment that evening on the 10 o'clock news. I'm nervous but I honestly just feel numb. I have so many emotions going on, one minute I'm crying the next I'm smiling, and the next I'm just blah. It's been very hard to not snap on someone and even harder trying not to put things in my mouth to eat in the form of comfort.

I guess that's all for now. :(

July 9th...

I'm three days late in blogging and I suppose it's because I've had a lot going on this past week. I even woke up late today. It seems that once you reach 25 years of age, the days seem to fly by and at some point in life, you don't even know what day of the week it is anymore. At least that's how I have been feeling.

I was off the first week of July. God plays a major part in one's life. By this I mean, yes I know God is everywhere at all times but I am truly starting to see what people mean that God has plans for us. Last week I was off. I planned to be off with my husband and just vegg at home, catch up on some much needed tanning, maybe even go to a water park or just a mini getaway. What wind up happening was me being off and spending majority of my time at the hospital with my twin Veronica. She had been experiencing some eye pain, swelling, sensitivity to light and just miserable. I took her to the immediate care where they gave her some drops and if pain persisted then we'd meet with her PCP. The following day, she was in extreme amount of pain and she was overbooked in a clinic. So immediate care was on June 27th, overbook appointment on 28th. As the day progressed on Friday, her symptoms seemed to get worse. Blurred vision was the main concern. I called the physician answering service and I managed to get an appointment on Monday, July 1st. More drops were given, and a follow-up was scheduled for Tuesday as well as blood work. Tuesday's appointment gave us the diagnosis of Uveitis. It seems that her WBC (white blood count) were working overdrive, collection behind the eye causing the pain and blurred vision. WBC usually fight off infection but where the infection was is to be determined. I still have to bring her in for a follow-up on Thursday, July 11th. She is feeling much better (thank God) and the drops she was given were steroid drops. The redness, swelling, and even the pain has been better. Blurred vision she has a little bit of and I pray that it gets better as well. I really didn't get to do much of anything during my time off but take her to her appointments. The weather wasn't the best, rain most part of the week. I was able to get some sun on the 4th and some on the weekend. I came back to work on Monday, July 8th only to find out that I was scheduled off. This is what I mean that the days just fly by and I have no clue what day it is let alone where I'm supposed to be. The week I took off I truly believe God intended for me because I did not interfere with anyone at work for coverage and I was able to come and go as I pleased without rushing. Also, I was able to take my oldest Bianca for her follow-up visit on Wednesday, July 3rd which she is now out of the cast and out of her boot. Friday, July 5th I had a yearly follow-up for my well-being which included a mammogram. I NEVER had a mammogram so this was a pretty interesting day for me. To be felt up, maneuvered, and humiliated, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I did however receive a letter in the mail yesterday stating that I would have to have additional imaging done because something was seen. What was seen who knows, I did leave a message for my doctor to call me and tell me just what was seen and what other test I now need to do. I'll keep ya posted on that.

Finally, since I had my annual follow-up (July 5th), they did weigh me, and the magic number is 151.2. I swear my plateau is getting the best of me and makes me quite sad. I also called the plastic surgery department, you will recall that my appointment was on June 21st. I called to follow-up on the insurance status and the nurse stated that they submitted my paperwork on July 3rd. Two weeks after my initial appointment and they submitted my paperwork on July 3rd. I was upset about it but it is what it is. If all goes well, I will be having my abdominal area worked on the last week of August and be out for two weeks. I also received a reminder in the e-mail that my interview with Univision Television is set for July 16th and it will be shown that night on the 10 o'clock news. I'm pretty excited about that and wondering just what color I'll wear. I'm trying to stay away from Black because of course you know that black hides everything. I have found myself buying colors (from the second-hand store of course) and steering away from black. I want to be true to the people who see me daily, I want them to see my weight loss, I'm not hiding myself or my clearly seen body flaws and that's what I want to show America as well. I hope this makes sense because what I'm thinking makes sense. If there is a video of this, then I'll post it. Wish me luck!

I have attached my July picture and a summer picture. It seems that this year/summer, I have visited Mario's Italian ice more than past years and this picture I was actually to take one with all of us together.
See ya soon!




July 5th, 151 pounds




"Summer of Mario- 2013"