Clumsybarbie

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Aug 30, 2010

Today makes 2 weeks since my RNY Gastric Bypass and 1 week since my follow-up surgery to find the bleed. My surgeon believes the blood I lost the weekend I had to go back into the hospital was blood from my first surgery.  I take a blood-thinner called Coumadin which makes these kinds risks very probable.  So a week ago, my surgeon went back in through and endoscope and couldn't find any new bleeds, he also took 3-4 biopsies of my new tummy but I believe those are all fine... after my blood counts came back up, he let me go home from the hospital, again :).

Today I had a post-op appointment with my nutritionist and the nurse practitioner for my surgeon.  Everything went great and I've lost 9 more pounds in the last week!  I've lost a grand total of 27 pounds since beginning my journey.  I am on my pureed diet which is pretty yummy.  I can have chicken, blended with cream soup, and even had blended taco soup last night and today.  My roommate makes it and it's both yummy and filled with protein!  I do kind of miss chewing, but I start my calcium chews tomorrow and those are yummy!  I hadn't started them yet because I wasn't sure if I could have them while on the pureed diet.  Mmmmm, just had a chocolate one, tastes like a Tootsie roll!  I have chocolate and lemon, they also make a raspberry, but I haven't tried those yet.  I know the lemon tastes like starbursts :).

I go back to see my surgeon and my nutritionist on Sept. 7th... I'm guessing maybe by then I'll be moved on to the "soft" diet. 

School started today, and I have signed up for two night classes, I need to try to get in a couple of Biology classes for my minor, so tomorrow I will try to call the department and see if it will let me register.  The two classes I signed up for are Behavior Modification and Industrial Psychology.  I really wish I had a little more time to heal up as I have really no desire to go trapesing (sp?) across campus at this point, but I also know I don't want to loose the whole semester.  Will contact my professors tomorrow and see if they will give me a pass for this first week.

Hugs!
Clumsybarbie 

Jul 29, 2010

Can you tell I'm getting excited?  I start my liquid pre-op diet on Sunday August 8th, and my surgery is on August 16th.  I'm excited, excited, excited!!  I finally feel like I'm taking the right path with my weight.  God has given me a calm about the surgery and the recovery.  Tonight I'm having awful heartburn and I can't wait til that too will be gone for good!!  Woot!  I will be buying the protein powder for my pre-op diet next week.  I have to do the Unjury unflavored protein powder in regular fruit juice four times a day then I also have to drink 2 cups (16 oz) of broth.  Other than that, I can have water, calorie-free beverages, sugar-free popsicles and sugar-free jello.  I think I will be just fine.  I am going out to a comedy club on the 10th for a show I'd purchased tickets for a loooong time ago, it will be hard to be around all that food and beer, but I'll be fine drinking my water, lol.  I would email my nutritionist and ask her if beer qualifies as a clear liquid but I don't want to cast any doubt on whether or not I'm ready!!

I will keep yall posted!!

Hugs!
Clumsybarbie

Jul 06, 2010

Yesterday made 6 weeks til my turn in the OR for my WLS!!  I'm gettin' sooooo excited!!  I have an appt with my surgeon today so he can make sure my binge eating is under control, I haven't binged in 8-9 months!!  I'm still nervous though because I know he can still pull the plug on this whole thing, but I know I'm ready for this and I believe that will show when I go to see him today.  I worry a little that I haven't lost any weight even though I gave up ALL sodas and ALL fast food on June 1st!  I feel better but the scale isn't moving :(.  That just reminds me of why I need this surgery, this tool, to help me.  Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th and hope yall are staying cool and hydrated in this heat.

Love to all,
Clumsybarbie 

Jun 22, 2010

Hi everyone!

So sorry it has been so long since my last post.  I FINALLY got a date, August 16th!  I am getting so excited I can barely sleep!  Just knowing that I will finally have this chance and this tool that has helped so many others is overwhelming!  I am going back for an appointment with my surgeon on July 6 so he can talk to me about my having my binge-eating disorder under control, I haven't binged in 7-8 mos!!  Then I will see him again, as well as a slew of other people, on July 20th for my pre op appointment.  This has been a long hard journey and I am so ready to go into that OR and start my new life!!

Love to all,
Clumsybarbie  

May 04, 2010

Sep 05, 2009

 Hi everyone,

Hope yall are having a great Labor Day Weekend.  I'm doing pretty well considering I'm 2 days post-op knee surgery.  I knew I was going to eventually need the knee surgery due to a genetic abnormality and I'd had the same surgery in my left knee 5yrs ago.  The surgery is called a Lateral Retinacular (sp?) Release.  The surgeon goes in and severs the tendon that is holding the knee cap in the wrong position.

The very interesting thing was my knee surgeon couldn't understand why my bariatric surg at another hospital was refusing to do the RNY on me.  He said he still needed to take care of my knee, then wanted me to see someone from their hospital's bariatric surg group.  I went for my pre-op stuff on Monday and the RN that worked with me recommended a doctor Spaw from Baptist Hospital... she said all of the nurses loved him and he had done various surgeries on them when he used to do other surgeries besides bariatric.  Then, on Thursday, when I was in the hospital for my knee surgery, yet another nurse brought up his name.  I'm going to look into getting an appt with him once I can drive (knee surgery was in my right leg this time, and being I don't live in London, this will be challenging, lol!)

Would love any and all advice especially if you've heard anything about Dr. Spaw at Baptist in Nashville!!

Hugs!
Clumsybarbie

Aug 14, 2009

Sorry to be such a "Debbie Downer", but this is one of the only places I can fully express myself and get advice from people who know what I'm going through.  It has been a month since my world came crashing down and I found out my surgeon would not do my surgery even after I had planned on it for over 6 mos.  I did meet with the nutritionist a couple of weeks ago, about a week after I found out my surgeon refused to do my surgery b/c of my Binge Eating D/O.  I'm focussing on eating healthy and not bingeing and we'll see.  My nut will not give me a time frame, but kept saying, "when we're getting ready for surgery, you won't be able to eat "x" amount of this" etc. The past couple of nights, I have been having weight-loss dreams where I go home for the holidays and all of my relatives have lost weight (eventhough they do not have weight issues-most of them) and I have not.  In some of the dreams, I think I have lost weight but I'm not sure.  My plans were to throw out or donate all of my winter clothes b/c I knew I would not be needing them, just seeing that bin full of sweaters makes me sad, or to look at the wool coat that could easily be a freakin' blanket for most that I will probably have to wear this Winter.  I have a degree in Psychology and know the stages of grieving: Denial, Anger, Guilt, Bargaining, and Acceptance.  I feel like I'm grieving not being able to have this surgery, it is a loss, a huge loss,  for me.  I realize why my surgeon is hesitant, he's worried about me bingeing and ripping my pouch and he's worried about me regaining the weight once I am 18-24mos out from surgery.  He has seen it too many times (mainly the regaining of weight) and has decided to tighten the ropes on who gets the surgery in the first place.  Once I can prove to them that I have the Binge Eating D/O under control and that I can eat correctly, then I can try for the surgery again.  This may even involve going into a treatment center, because right now I feel so out of control and depressed.  I need help and I need your prayers.  God bless you all.

Jul 15, 2009

Jul 12, 2009

I read the daily "Q&A's" that OH sends to my email box, I hear stories of people doing well, I look through the before and after photos and see the changes, but it makes me sad to wonder if I will ever get to see this miracle in my life, in my body.  Things are still tied up at my surgeon's office... Thursday I saw my therapist and she told me that she had sent a letter to my nutritionist.  On Friday I got an email from the nutritionist saying that she would put the letter in my file and that my "case" would be brought up at the next clinic meeting on Wednesday, and after that, she would let me know if my case was going to the insurance for approval, or if there was anything else required of me to do prior to it being submitted.  I am so tired of waiting for it.  Part of me just wants to start eating the carnation instant breakfast, or just put myself on a long-term liquid diet and forget about the surgery.  I am so frustrated.  Yes, I have issues with food, how else do you think I would have got to 312 pounds... does anyone go into the O.R. with perfection?  I don't think so.  I've admitted to binge eating, they are worried it will continue post op even thought the nutritionist told me I'll just make myself sick if I do that... I get that.  I know they are all just worried, but it still sucks.  I thought I would have already had my surgery by now and cannot believe I'm still waiting.  I don't tell people anymore that I'm having surgery, the ones that know still know, but I got tired of people asking "when?"  Would love any and all advice and encouraging words, really needing them right now.

Jun 18, 2009

Hello again,

Late yesterday afternoon, I got a phone call from the nut who is supposedly the one who had requested the additional six months of psychological counseling.  She claims ( and I have no reason to NOT believe her) she didn't say that and that she even told the nurse that I am already seeing a counselor weekly and have been for the past couple of years.  Not sure where the ball got dropped, but it has been picked back up and is now being submitted to my insurance after I see the diabetes doc on the 25th of this month (a week from today).  That was rough!  Thanks so much to all who helped me through that, and thanks for all of your answers, thoughts, and encouragement!!  Yall are the greatest!! 

Hugs!
Clumsybarbie