Andrea N.
9-17-06
Sep 16, 2006
I have made it a full three months!! YAY!! I went for a three month follow up with Dr. Schirmer on Thursday. When I was at work the day before I got on the scale just so I would have an idea how far off my work scale was from Dr. Schirmer's scale - the scale at work said 265 and Dr. Schirmer's the next day said 264 - that means I have lost a total of 59 pounds in three months. I can not express how blessed I feel to have had the oppourtunity to have this surgery. It has totally changed my life.
I met with the nutritionist and she suggested I eat more vegetables, but doing excellent in all other aspects. Dr. Schirmer suggested that I not wait much longer before consulting with the Sleep Doctors - he felt that within a very short time I would either no longer need my C-PAP machine or it could be turned down. They also took blood on Thursday and as most people who have had this surgery know - the blood work is very important to see how your body is doing after surgery.
Dr. Schirmer said to expect to lose another 50-60 pounds by Christmas - I can not even imagine. I am ready for it though. I really need to buy a bike or something - I need to get a little more exercise. I'd love an eliptical machine - but don't have a place to use it at home.
Unfortunately, I am still suffering from neck and back pain, but I am going to physical therapy twice a week and it is getting better.
I am updating this during the first Dallas Cowboy and Deadskins game - so forgive me for this being short!!
I met with the nutritionist and she suggested I eat more vegetables, but doing excellent in all other aspects. Dr. Schirmer suggested that I not wait much longer before consulting with the Sleep Doctors - he felt that within a very short time I would either no longer need my C-PAP machine or it could be turned down. They also took blood on Thursday and as most people who have had this surgery know - the blood work is very important to see how your body is doing after surgery.
Dr. Schirmer said to expect to lose another 50-60 pounds by Christmas - I can not even imagine. I am ready for it though. I really need to buy a bike or something - I need to get a little more exercise. I'd love an eliptical machine - but don't have a place to use it at home.
Unfortunately, I am still suffering from neck and back pain, but I am going to physical therapy twice a week and it is getting better.
I am updating this during the first Dallas Cowboy and Deadskins game - so forgive me for this being short!!
8-22-06
Aug 21, 2006
went through a stall/plateau the week after starting back at Curves and only lost about a pound. As of yesterday morning I am now down to 277-1/2, which translates to a total loss of 45.5 pounds in eight weeks and three days. I am very excited. I am starting to notice little things here and there, besides my clothes being very large - my seatbelt in my car is laying differently across my chest and the skin at the bottom of my belly has a much different feel to it. It is hard to explain, but it is starting to feel more like skin with no fat in it rather than skin with fat in it. I know crazy, right?
My son, Matt, says he is starting to see indentations in places that were not indented before.
I am still having problems with my neck/back. The pain was originally just in my neck and shoulders, but has started to move down to encompass my whole back. I am still on painkillers and Lidoderm patches and yesterday I started physical therapy.
I also returned to working out at Curves the week before last. I can not do all the machines yet (have to skip two of them), but I am reaching my target heart rate and working hard to tone what I can.
Starting next week on Monday after work I will be going to physical therapy, Tuesday and Wednesdays will be Curves and Thursday physical therapy again. I am really hoping the physical therapy will fix the neck/back problem and I will start to feel better and not be in pain all day. I am also trying to organize my work area with hopes of eliminating any areas where I might strain something.
As for the tummy, that is just fine. We had a meeting today at work and they ordered pizza. They ordered a thin crust pepperoni pizza just for me and I ate one small square. I know most people would say you are trying to lose weight and you are eating pizza - well, I think about it this way - before surgery I would have eaten 4-5 slices of regular crust pizza. I managed one small square of thin crust and I was totally full and satisfied. This morning I put a roast in my crock pot and tonight for dinner we had roast, green beans and mac and cheese. I didn't eat mac & cheese of course - but I did eat about 7 small bites of roast beef and 6 green beans. I was thrilled to know that my body is okay with beef because I have heard that a lot of people have a problem with beef after surgery. I have made the occasional mistake of taking a sip of something to drink too soon after eating and that usually makes me a little nauseous, but I am now being much more aware of the time and waiting the proper amount of time.
All in all I am very happy that I did what I had to do to get this surgery, even though it was a very long wait. I have no regrets and just visions of the future. Life is good!
My son, Matt, says he is starting to see indentations in places that were not indented before.
I am still having problems with my neck/back. The pain was originally just in my neck and shoulders, but has started to move down to encompass my whole back. I am still on painkillers and Lidoderm patches and yesterday I started physical therapy.
I also returned to working out at Curves the week before last. I can not do all the machines yet (have to skip two of them), but I am reaching my target heart rate and working hard to tone what I can.
Starting next week on Monday after work I will be going to physical therapy, Tuesday and Wednesdays will be Curves and Thursday physical therapy again. I am really hoping the physical therapy will fix the neck/back problem and I will start to feel better and not be in pain all day. I am also trying to organize my work area with hopes of eliminating any areas where I might strain something.
As for the tummy, that is just fine. We had a meeting today at work and they ordered pizza. They ordered a thin crust pepperoni pizza just for me and I ate one small square. I know most people would say you are trying to lose weight and you are eating pizza - well, I think about it this way - before surgery I would have eaten 4-5 slices of regular crust pizza. I managed one small square of thin crust and I was totally full and satisfied. This morning I put a roast in my crock pot and tonight for dinner we had roast, green beans and mac and cheese. I didn't eat mac & cheese of course - but I did eat about 7 small bites of roast beef and 6 green beans. I was thrilled to know that my body is okay with beef because I have heard that a lot of people have a problem with beef after surgery. I have made the occasional mistake of taking a sip of something to drink too soon after eating and that usually makes me a little nauseous, but I am now being much more aware of the time and waiting the proper amount of time.
All in all I am very happy that I did what I had to do to get this surgery, even though it was a very long wait. I have no regrets and just visions of the future. Life is good!
8-11-06
Aug 10, 2006
I got this from the June 2006 Message Board and I totally love it - thanks Holly W.
You Know You Are A WLS Patient When:
1. "I have a date" doesn't mean you are going out.
2. "I'm a loser" is a good thing.
3. "Welcome to the other side" does not mean you have died.
4. New clothes fall off the next week.
5. You are excited about "hand me downs"
6. YOU have a NEW family!
7. Hitting the "Century Mark" is a good thing!
8. You love the taste of Chewable Centrum Rugrats Vitamins or biting the head off of Wilma.
9. People start calling you tiny, and it's a good thing.
10. When the word lap has nothing to do with a strip club!!
11. When "No, I couldn't eat another bite" really has a deeper meaning!
12. When they look at you resentfully in the plus size store because you really don't belong there anymore!
13. When you have to prove you are you on your license!
14. When you start hogging the camera space and loving the pictures!
15. You want to hug everyone who is fat and give them your surgeon's card.
16. You are never without a bottle of water.
17. When people look surprised when they see how little you eat.
18. When you know all too well the definition of "dumping".
19. When you can see your feet for the first time in years!!
20. When you order a doggy bag the same time you order your meal.
21. When you count protein grams instead of calories.
22. You say "Oh, I won't have any of that, I'm full" and really mean it.
23. When the only way your nipples are where they belong is to roll them up, position them in your bra & secure them with a pony-tail holder!!! (sorry for the visual guys!)
24. Having your husband say, "Honey, I can put my arm (not arms) all the way around you!!"
25. When you go to the mall and you park in the first open space instead of circling for 20 minutes for a spot by the door.
26. You go out on a date and are really truly a "Cheap date" and not in the way that some think.....
27. When one drink makes you a flipping floozy...
28. When you run you don't hear a flapping noise.....oh wait you still do.....but at least you are running!
29. When your husband takes your breath away in a moment of passion...but not because he is squishing your tummy!
30. You feel like you have over eaten after eating half a cup of something.
31. Vitamins and calcium etc. feel like a meal.
32. When the chef comes out from the kitchen and asks you "what's the matter, don't you like the meal?"
33. You've just lost 100 pounds, and someone who hasn't seen you in a while says .... "Gee, did you change your hairstyle?"
34. When you bend over and see daylight through your thighs.
35. You can cross your legs.
36. When you ask for a sample in the deli section of a grocery store and that's your meal.
37. When you say, "I just got these clothes last week and they're already too big!"
38. Trying to cash a check and the teller says, "That's not you!"
39. Instead of the "Wonder Bra" you need a "Wonder Where They Went Bra."
40. You walk into a store and see all the weight loss products and know you will never need to buy them again.
41. When you walk by a mirror and say to yourself "Who is that girl?"
42. When people take a double look at you.
43. When you go out for the evening and feel like Cinderella.
44. When your shoe size shrinks and you start buying shoes that tie.
45. When the steering wheel in your car no longer cuts off the circulation in your tummy area.
46. When you drop food, it no longer lands on your boobs, but actually lands in your lap.
47. You can avoid the handicap stalls in public restrooms because you can now "fit" in a regular stall.
48. The thought of fitting into an airline seat no longer sends you into a panic attack.
49. When your able to tuck a blouse into your pants.
50. When you are excited to be able to go to the thrift shops and get your dressy clothes.
51. When the flight attendant doesn't reach for the seat belt extender, and you can sit by the window.
52. When people actually "see" you and talk to you, and not through you like you are invisible.
53. When you order a child's meal, and take half of it home in a doggie bag.
54. When checking for leaks doesn't mean looking at your panties!!!
55. When your spandex shorts are used for *JOGGING*, and not merely as an anti-chaffing between-the-thighs-shielding-device.
56. When your exercise equipment isn't just for drying your fine washables anymore.
57. When your child or grandchild wants to sit on your lap-and they really can!
58. When your boyfriend/spouse starts gaining weight because of eating your leftovers.
59. When you can run up a flight of stairs and don't have to stand there for 10 minutes to catch your breath.
60. You can't wait to wake up and start your day.
61. Your butt gets tired of sitting because you have no padding.
62. You go out to eat and ask if anyone wants to split a kids meal.
63. When people you know but haven't seen since before surgery DON'T know you!
64. Having to get a new driver's license because you FINALLY weigh less that what you've lied about for years!
65. You are actually bold enough to admit your weight, and even post it on the internet!!!
66. You can eat 1/4 of a chicken breast and feel like you just finished Thanksgiving dinner.
67. You actually look forward to stepping on a set of scales!
68. You are not embarrassed of anything that you have in your cart at the supermarket!
69. When you're no longer embarrassed to tell people you weigh 200 pounds (and that you weighed over 300).
70. When you will tell complete strangers intimate details of your toileting experiences.
71. Being able to hang clothes in the closet without them falling off the hanger.
72. Exercise is a good thing.
73. You leave Costco feeling like you've left an all you can eat buffet (all those free samples!).
74. When you call Lane Bryant and Catherines and ask them to take you off their list and cancel your credit card.
75. When you spend a day in your room trying on clothes you shoved to the back of the closet/dresser.
76. You buy 3 Lean Cuisines a week...and that's your total groceries.
77. Your rings keep spinning around your fingers.
You Know You Are A WLS Patient When:
1. "I have a date" doesn't mean you are going out.
2. "I'm a loser" is a good thing.
3. "Welcome to the other side" does not mean you have died.
4. New clothes fall off the next week.
5. You are excited about "hand me downs"
6. YOU have a NEW family!
7. Hitting the "Century Mark" is a good thing!
8. You love the taste of Chewable Centrum Rugrats Vitamins or biting the head off of Wilma.
9. People start calling you tiny, and it's a good thing.
10. When the word lap has nothing to do with a strip club!!
11. When "No, I couldn't eat another bite" really has a deeper meaning!
12. When they look at you resentfully in the plus size store because you really don't belong there anymore!
13. When you have to prove you are you on your license!
14. When you start hogging the camera space and loving the pictures!
15. You want to hug everyone who is fat and give them your surgeon's card.
16. You are never without a bottle of water.
17. When people look surprised when they see how little you eat.
18. When you know all too well the definition of "dumping".
19. When you can see your feet for the first time in years!!
20. When you order a doggy bag the same time you order your meal.
21. When you count protein grams instead of calories.
22. You say "Oh, I won't have any of that, I'm full" and really mean it.
23. When the only way your nipples are where they belong is to roll them up, position them in your bra & secure them with a pony-tail holder!!! (sorry for the visual guys!)
24. Having your husband say, "Honey, I can put my arm (not arms) all the way around you!!"
25. When you go to the mall and you park in the first open space instead of circling for 20 minutes for a spot by the door.
26. You go out on a date and are really truly a "Cheap date" and not in the way that some think.....
27. When one drink makes you a flipping floozy...
28. When you run you don't hear a flapping noise.....oh wait you still do.....but at least you are running!
29. When your husband takes your breath away in a moment of passion...but not because he is squishing your tummy!
30. You feel like you have over eaten after eating half a cup of something.
31. Vitamins and calcium etc. feel like a meal.
32. When the chef comes out from the kitchen and asks you "what's the matter, don't you like the meal?"
33. You've just lost 100 pounds, and someone who hasn't seen you in a while says .... "Gee, did you change your hairstyle?"
34. When you bend over and see daylight through your thighs.
35. You can cross your legs.
36. When you ask for a sample in the deli section of a grocery store and that's your meal.
37. When you say, "I just got these clothes last week and they're already too big!"
38. Trying to cash a check and the teller says, "That's not you!"
39. Instead of the "Wonder Bra" you need a "Wonder Where They Went Bra."
40. You walk into a store and see all the weight loss products and know you will never need to buy them again.
41. When you walk by a mirror and say to yourself "Who is that girl?"
42. When people take a double look at you.
43. When you go out for the evening and feel like Cinderella.
44. When your shoe size shrinks and you start buying shoes that tie.
45. When the steering wheel in your car no longer cuts off the circulation in your tummy area.
46. When you drop food, it no longer lands on your boobs, but actually lands in your lap.
47. You can avoid the handicap stalls in public restrooms because you can now "fit" in a regular stall.
48. The thought of fitting into an airline seat no longer sends you into a panic attack.
49. When your able to tuck a blouse into your pants.
50. When you are excited to be able to go to the thrift shops and get your dressy clothes.
51. When the flight attendant doesn't reach for the seat belt extender, and you can sit by the window.
52. When people actually "see" you and talk to you, and not through you like you are invisible.
53. When you order a child's meal, and take half of it home in a doggie bag.
54. When checking for leaks doesn't mean looking at your panties!!!
55. When your spandex shorts are used for *JOGGING*, and not merely as an anti-chaffing between-the-thighs-shielding-device.
56. When your exercise equipment isn't just for drying your fine washables anymore.
57. When your child or grandchild wants to sit on your lap-and they really can!
58. When your boyfriend/spouse starts gaining weight because of eating your leftovers.
59. When you can run up a flight of stairs and don't have to stand there for 10 minutes to catch your breath.
60. You can't wait to wake up and start your day.
61. Your butt gets tired of sitting because you have no padding.
62. You go out to eat and ask if anyone wants to split a kids meal.
63. When people you know but haven't seen since before surgery DON'T know you!
64. Having to get a new driver's license because you FINALLY weigh less that what you've lied about for years!
65. You are actually bold enough to admit your weight, and even post it on the internet!!!
66. You can eat 1/4 of a chicken breast and feel like you just finished Thanksgiving dinner.
67. You actually look forward to stepping on a set of scales!
68. You are not embarrassed of anything that you have in your cart at the supermarket!
69. When you're no longer embarrassed to tell people you weigh 200 pounds (and that you weighed over 300).
70. When you will tell complete strangers intimate details of your toileting experiences.
71. Being able to hang clothes in the closet without them falling off the hanger.
72. Exercise is a good thing.
73. You leave Costco feeling like you've left an all you can eat buffet (all those free samples!).
74. When you call Lane Bryant and Catherines and ask them to take you off their list and cancel your credit card.
75. When you spend a day in your room trying on clothes you shoved to the back of the closet/dresser.
76. You buy 3 Lean Cuisines a week...and that's your total groceries.
77. Your rings keep spinning around your fingers.
8-4-06
Aug 03, 2006
As of today I am six weeks postop and feeling great! I am still not having problems with food and I am very thankful for that. As of this morning the scale in my office said 286. That means I have lost 37 pounds in six weeks. YAY!! I have a pair of pants on right now that are close to falling off and that is an incredible feeling.
I went out to eat over this past weekend (first time I had been "out" with adults in a very long time) and had a great time. I had crab legs at Red Lobster and even though I didn't eat even half of what they gave me - they were really good and my tummy liked them just fine.
The summer is coming to an end now. The kids go back to school on August 14th and I will have to start getting back up every morning at 5:30am. The kids will be in 10th, 7th and 5th grades this year. I know most parents are excited when school starts back up, but I think I am an exception - I like having my kids around and I especially like it that there is no homework to confront as soon as I come home from work. Hehehehehe. I will be 37 in 24 days - getting old, but finally feeling great.
**warning - personal kinda yucky information coming up - you can stop reading now if you want** (don't say I didn't warn ya)
My only real problem (besides being incredibly tired and by the end of a work week feeling totally exhausted) is constipation. It has been a real issue and I am trying different stuff to see what works to make it stop. I wish somebody had told me before hand that constipation is a real issue even though it would not have helped apparently. When I left the hospital they told me to take Colace every day and it got to where I was taking 4 a day along with my fiber supplement and still nothing - what finally worked was 4 tablespoons of milk of magnesia, 4 Colace and 2 Dulcolax tablets, but I certainly do not want to keep up that regimen so I will be doing some research to see what is my best option.
I went out to eat over this past weekend (first time I had been "out" with adults in a very long time) and had a great time. I had crab legs at Red Lobster and even though I didn't eat even half of what they gave me - they were really good and my tummy liked them just fine.
The summer is coming to an end now. The kids go back to school on August 14th and I will have to start getting back up every morning at 5:30am. The kids will be in 10th, 7th and 5th grades this year. I know most parents are excited when school starts back up, but I think I am an exception - I like having my kids around and I especially like it that there is no homework to confront as soon as I come home from work. Hehehehehe. I will be 37 in 24 days - getting old, but finally feeling great.
**warning - personal kinda yucky information coming up - you can stop reading now if you want** (don't say I didn't warn ya)
My only real problem (besides being incredibly tired and by the end of a work week feeling totally exhausted) is constipation. It has been a real issue and I am trying different stuff to see what works to make it stop. I wish somebody had told me before hand that constipation is a real issue even though it would not have helped apparently. When I left the hospital they told me to take Colace every day and it got to where I was taking 4 a day along with my fiber supplement and still nothing - what finally worked was 4 tablespoons of milk of magnesia, 4 Colace and 2 Dulcolax tablets, but I certainly do not want to keep up that regimen so I will be doing some research to see what is my best option.
7-24-06
Jul 23, 2006
One month postop - BIG HUGE THANK YOU GOES OUT TO REBA WHO DID A GLORIOUS JOB UPDATING MY PROFILE! Didn't she do a beautiful job?
I am now one month postop and as of today I am down 29 pounds. I started this journey at 323 pounds and as of today I am at 294 - 160 here I come - slowly, but surely. I went back to work 12 days after surgery on July 5th and everybody was wonderful. My PCP walked into my office on my first day back and broke out in a huge smile and said "You are really back!". He had warned me before surgery that afterwards I would probably feel like I had been run over by a truck and I think he was a little skeptical at my plan to come back to work so soon, but I felt really good and I was really happy to be going back to the job I love. Of course I did feel like I had been run over by a truck the first couple days after surgery especially after being operated on twice, but I was pretty active upon coming home and I think that helped. I still get tired fairly easily and I am grateful when the day is over, but all in all I feel like I am doing great and being around such supportive people everyday really helps. I get on the scale once a week at work and everytime I step off everybody looks at me expectantly and cheers everytime the scale goes down and having that kind of support just can not be beat. I also have a lot of support from my family and the kids have been wonderful. My oldest son, Matthew, was an angel while I was recovering and never once complained about having to do stuff for mom. The two youngest have been fantastic since they have been home also. I am definately a lucky mom to have such wonderful children.
My middle son, Timmy, just had his tonsils and adenoids out and even though I know he must be in pain he has really been a trooper. He takes his medicine when I give it to him and has not complained one bit. This was his first operation and he was a little bit apprehensive, which was to be expected. When they brought him out into recovery and brought me back his first words were "Mom, it was so strange - they put me on that bed in the operating room and the next thing I knew I was in here - I was having a great dream too". He seemed a little miffed at missing out on the dream, but he got over it soon enough.
As far as eating goes, I have tried eggs both scrambled and egg salad, slices of cheese, jello, pudding, tuna fish, Hormel Chili with Beans, mashed potatoes, slices of turkey and my favorite flounder fillets all without any problem.
I have been taking two Children's complete chewable vitamins a day, Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D, Vitamin B-12 and my other normal medications every day and the only thing that seems to bother me is the Calcium because they are very large - even cut in half. I swear by Papaya Enzyme because they truly can make you feel better within 15 minutes if you accidentally eat a couple extra bites too much.
So all in all I am doing great and I am very happy to be on my way to not only a smaller size, but with better health and ready to enjoy my life 100%.
I am now one month postop and as of today I am down 29 pounds. I started this journey at 323 pounds and as of today I am at 294 - 160 here I come - slowly, but surely. I went back to work 12 days after surgery on July 5th and everybody was wonderful. My PCP walked into my office on my first day back and broke out in a huge smile and said "You are really back!". He had warned me before surgery that afterwards I would probably feel like I had been run over by a truck and I think he was a little skeptical at my plan to come back to work so soon, but I felt really good and I was really happy to be going back to the job I love. Of course I did feel like I had been run over by a truck the first couple days after surgery especially after being operated on twice, but I was pretty active upon coming home and I think that helped. I still get tired fairly easily and I am grateful when the day is over, but all in all I feel like I am doing great and being around such supportive people everyday really helps. I get on the scale once a week at work and everytime I step off everybody looks at me expectantly and cheers everytime the scale goes down and having that kind of support just can not be beat. I also have a lot of support from my family and the kids have been wonderful. My oldest son, Matthew, was an angel while I was recovering and never once complained about having to do stuff for mom. The two youngest have been fantastic since they have been home also. I am definately a lucky mom to have such wonderful children.
My middle son, Timmy, just had his tonsils and adenoids out and even though I know he must be in pain he has really been a trooper. He takes his medicine when I give it to him and has not complained one bit. This was his first operation and he was a little bit apprehensive, which was to be expected. When they brought him out into recovery and brought me back his first words were "Mom, it was so strange - they put me on that bed in the operating room and the next thing I knew I was in here - I was having a great dream too". He seemed a little miffed at missing out on the dream, but he got over it soon enough.
As far as eating goes, I have tried eggs both scrambled and egg salad, slices of cheese, jello, pudding, tuna fish, Hormel Chili with Beans, mashed potatoes, slices of turkey and my favorite flounder fillets all without any problem.
I have been taking two Children's complete chewable vitamins a day, Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D, Vitamin B-12 and my other normal medications every day and the only thing that seems to bother me is the Calcium because they are very large - even cut in half. I swear by Papaya Enzyme because they truly can make you feel better within 15 minutes if you accidentally eat a couple extra bites too much.
So all in all I am doing great and I am very happy to be on my way to not only a smaller size, but with better health and ready to enjoy my life 100%.
6-26-06
Jun 25, 2006
3 DAYS POSTOP
Well I made it to the other side. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make it here and now I have and I hope it just keeps getting better. I was running around like a crazy person on Thursday trying to get stuff coordinated, bags packed etc. I was told that day to be at the hospital at 8:30am. I took my youngest two boys to their dad at 8:30 the night before and got real emotional telling them bye and we all started crying. When I got back to my parents house (where I have been staying since the night before surgery and for about another week) I was pretty much an emotional wreck and I almost forgot to pack a bag for the hospital. The next morning we went to the hospital and sat in an Surgical Family Waiting Area for about an hour and a half. Then a nurse came to get me to do my vitals and while she was doing that another lady came to get me to take me upstairs to pre-op. Matt (my 15-year-old) and I went off to pre-op where they started an IV (this one hurt like the devil, but it worked the whole time I was in the hospital). I was then put in the little booties and a hospital gown and people came in and visited from time to time and would leave again. I think we waited there the longest. The estimated start time of my surgery was supposed to be 10:30 and I think it was after 12:30 before the got me to the operating room. I started crying and was having a hard time holding it together in the operating room because I was so scared, but they calmed me down and told me they were going to take good care of me. Then things started to get blurry. I know I woke up in the recovery room and I was hurting pretty bad and they gave me some medicine and I was in and out of it after that. I remember the nurse telling me they were short on transportation people and that is why I was staying in Recovery for so long. I was finally taken to my room and although still a little vague - I know my sister and her boyfriend, Matt and my parents were there. They had hooked me up to a PAC pump with morphine and that stuff just wasn't working. They then gave me some Fenthynl through the IV and I do remember getting up and sitting in a chair for a few minutes and the next thing I remember fairly clear was it was late (looked at the time later) and Dr. Schirmer came into my room and sat on the bed and I thought he was just checking on my progress, but as it turns out he was telling me he had some bad news - somewhere in my drugged brain I thought he was going to tell me he had done the LAP band instead and I didn't want the LAP band - but then it sunk in a little more. He said they had removed a piece of my intestine that was not getting adequate blood supply and had put it in a bag to be removed later. As it turns out after the operation was over and he was at home somehow he remembered, or somebody called him and told him, but they had forgotten to remove that bag and it was causing havoc inside me. At the time we were having some very serious thunderstorms in the area and because of that all the operating rooms were busy with emergencies. He told me he was taking me back to the operating room at 1am ( I was so drugged - I asked him if it was okay if I sleep until then and he said it was fine. LOL) I remember waking up when they were coming in to take me to the operating room and I talked to a lot of the same people - kinda sketchy what was said, but essentially I think it was a lot of apologies about me having to go through this twice. I woke up in the recovery room the second time and I was in a lot less pain then - Dr. Schirmer had put some numbing medication on my LAP sites and for a couple hours it was awesome. The next day was pretty much bits and pieces - I was in A LOT of pain and even a little bit of moving wore me out. I know at one point after the leak test and I vomited they gave me some phenergen because I was so nauseaus and I really couldn't stay awake after that. I walked a little here and there Saturday evening and then some more on Sunday morning. I took a shower Sunday morning and then came home Sunday afternoon. So all in all it was eventful with going to the operating room twice - but I am feeling better and just gotta get through day by day until the weight starts coming off.
Well I made it to the other side. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make it here and now I have and I hope it just keeps getting better. I was running around like a crazy person on Thursday trying to get stuff coordinated, bags packed etc. I was told that day to be at the hospital at 8:30am. I took my youngest two boys to their dad at 8:30 the night before and got real emotional telling them bye and we all started crying. When I got back to my parents house (where I have been staying since the night before surgery and for about another week) I was pretty much an emotional wreck and I almost forgot to pack a bag for the hospital. The next morning we went to the hospital and sat in an Surgical Family Waiting Area for about an hour and a half. Then a nurse came to get me to do my vitals and while she was doing that another lady came to get me to take me upstairs to pre-op. Matt (my 15-year-old) and I went off to pre-op where they started an IV (this one hurt like the devil, but it worked the whole time I was in the hospital). I was then put in the little booties and a hospital gown and people came in and visited from time to time and would leave again. I think we waited there the longest. The estimated start time of my surgery was supposed to be 10:30 and I think it was after 12:30 before the got me to the operating room. I started crying and was having a hard time holding it together in the operating room because I was so scared, but they calmed me down and told me they were going to take good care of me. Then things started to get blurry. I know I woke up in the recovery room and I was hurting pretty bad and they gave me some medicine and I was in and out of it after that. I remember the nurse telling me they were short on transportation people and that is why I was staying in Recovery for so long. I was finally taken to my room and although still a little vague - I know my sister and her boyfriend, Matt and my parents were there. They had hooked me up to a PAC pump with morphine and that stuff just wasn't working. They then gave me some Fenthynl through the IV and I do remember getting up and sitting in a chair for a few minutes and the next thing I remember fairly clear was it was late (looked at the time later) and Dr. Schirmer came into my room and sat on the bed and I thought he was just checking on my progress, but as it turns out he was telling me he had some bad news - somewhere in my drugged brain I thought he was going to tell me he had done the LAP band instead and I didn't want the LAP band - but then it sunk in a little more. He said they had removed a piece of my intestine that was not getting adequate blood supply and had put it in a bag to be removed later. As it turns out after the operation was over and he was at home somehow he remembered, or somebody called him and told him, but they had forgotten to remove that bag and it was causing havoc inside me. At the time we were having some very serious thunderstorms in the area and because of that all the operating rooms were busy with emergencies. He told me he was taking me back to the operating room at 1am ( I was so drugged - I asked him if it was okay if I sleep until then and he said it was fine. LOL) I remember waking up when they were coming in to take me to the operating room and I talked to a lot of the same people - kinda sketchy what was said, but essentially I think it was a lot of apologies about me having to go through this twice. I woke up in the recovery room the second time and I was in a lot less pain then - Dr. Schirmer had put some numbing medication on my LAP sites and for a couple hours it was awesome. The next day was pretty much bits and pieces - I was in A LOT of pain and even a little bit of moving wore me out. I know at one point after the leak test and I vomited they gave me some phenergen because I was so nauseaus and I really couldn't stay awake after that. I walked a little here and there Saturday evening and then some more on Sunday morning. I took a shower Sunday morning and then came home Sunday afternoon. So all in all it was eventful with going to the operating room twice - but I am feeling better and just gotta get through day by day until the weight starts coming off.
6-16-06
Jun 15, 2006
One Week.
One week! One week from today I will be post-op and spending the night in UVa Hospital. I almost can not believe I am actually at this point. I went through hell to get here.
I started with the insurance company that I had at work and I called them January 3, 2003 and they told me their policy was as long as a doctor said it was medically necessary I could do it, but at the same time they said that could change because their company had just been bought and the insurance would be changing and at that time they didn't know how. I got the new insurance card a few days later and called the number on the back and they told me that if the company I worked for had bought a "rider" then it would be covered. Of course, they hadn't and it came down to fighting the insurance company, which would mean staying at a job I didn't want. At that point my ex-husband put me on his plan and I went back to college. I went to National College of Business and Technology for a year and got a Honors Diploma in Medical Transcription. While looking for a job, I started the process of getting approved in December of 2004 with Dr. Schirmer with my ex-husband's insurance. I went to the first appointment, then to a psych evaluation (Feb of 2005)and then they wanted 6 months of physician supervised diet so of course I set out to do that. I finished that at the end of 2005 and the surgeons office tried to get approval. Unfortunately, right about this time (December 2005) my ex called me and told me that his company was dropping that insurance for another company. The current insurance company knew they were about to be dropped and they played a little game for a couple of weeks so the end of the year would run out and they wouldn't have to pay. Go figure. I ended up getting my dream job with Martha Jefferson Hospital in January 2006 and I am now on their insurance as my primary and the new insurance through my ex is secondary and it is really too bad I can't get rid of them because of course his company did not purchase the rider and they won't be helping with the surgery. So it has been 3 years, 5 insurance companies and I am now one week away from getting my life back.
I have to admit I am pretty nervous. One of my "surgery buddies" is currently in the hospital on life support with a bad infection. That is scary for me especially, but at the same time according to my doctor I have pre-hypertension and just told I was told I am pre-diabetic (insulin resistant)and there isn't one person in my immediate famiy who is a diabetic. I want my life back. I want to be able to go grocery shopping for my family without people looking at me like I am a green alien from another planet. My aim is not to be "skinny" - I just want comfortable. I will never be beautiful on the outside - I have accepted that, but I want to be healthy and live a long and full life without pills to keep this or that under control.
One more week.
One week! One week from today I will be post-op and spending the night in UVa Hospital. I almost can not believe I am actually at this point. I went through hell to get here.
I started with the insurance company that I had at work and I called them January 3, 2003 and they told me their policy was as long as a doctor said it was medically necessary I could do it, but at the same time they said that could change because their company had just been bought and the insurance would be changing and at that time they didn't know how. I got the new insurance card a few days later and called the number on the back and they told me that if the company I worked for had bought a "rider" then it would be covered. Of course, they hadn't and it came down to fighting the insurance company, which would mean staying at a job I didn't want. At that point my ex-husband put me on his plan and I went back to college. I went to National College of Business and Technology for a year and got a Honors Diploma in Medical Transcription. While looking for a job, I started the process of getting approved in December of 2004 with Dr. Schirmer with my ex-husband's insurance. I went to the first appointment, then to a psych evaluation (Feb of 2005)and then they wanted 6 months of physician supervised diet so of course I set out to do that. I finished that at the end of 2005 and the surgeons office tried to get approval. Unfortunately, right about this time (December 2005) my ex called me and told me that his company was dropping that insurance for another company. The current insurance company knew they were about to be dropped and they played a little game for a couple of weeks so the end of the year would run out and they wouldn't have to pay. Go figure. I ended up getting my dream job with Martha Jefferson Hospital in January 2006 and I am now on their insurance as my primary and the new insurance through my ex is secondary and it is really too bad I can't get rid of them because of course his company did not purchase the rider and they won't be helping with the surgery. So it has been 3 years, 5 insurance companies and I am now one week away from getting my life back.
I have to admit I am pretty nervous. One of my "surgery buddies" is currently in the hospital on life support with a bad infection. That is scary for me especially, but at the same time according to my doctor I have pre-hypertension and just told I was told I am pre-diabetic (insulin resistant)and there isn't one person in my immediate famiy who is a diabetic. I want my life back. I want to be able to go grocery shopping for my family without people looking at me like I am a green alien from another planet. My aim is not to be "skinny" - I just want comfortable. I will never be beautiful on the outside - I have accepted that, but I want to be healthy and live a long and full life without pills to keep this or that under control.
One more week.
6-7-06
Jun 06, 2006
I am home from the endoscopy. My thoat is a tiny bit sore - my head is POUNDING - the precare nurse got my IV on the first try and that was wonderful. I don't remember much of the whole procedure besides being on the bed, having some oxygen and the nurse telling me to roll over on my side (she made me real comfy and that was cool) The only awful thing was the gargling numbing stuff - and I only slightly remember the docs face looking at me and Dr. Schirmer telling her to give me more of the drugs. According to my aftercare nurse everything was normal, but I do have a small hiatal hernia (which we kinda already knew).
I am finally in my nightgown and I am going to lay down before this headache requires serious narcotics.
I am finally in my nightgown and I am going to lay down before this headache requires serious narcotics.
6-6-06
Jun 05, 2006
The kids and I have had a rough few days and I've kinda been hiding out and lurking here and there - just not in the mood to make too many connections. On Friday I had to take my middle child's cat (Ripley) to the vet because he had been laying around and just seemed to not be feeling quite right. I was thinking - oh, they will give him some antibiotics and we will bring him home and everything will be okay - boy, was I WRONG! The vet said his liver was failing because he had feline leukemia and there was nothing they could do for him. I was dumbstruck and my heart was breaking because my middle child "acts tough", but he is really a softy at heart. I ended up going to my mom's house and had to call him at his Dad's in Dale City and tell him what the vet said - I barely got the words out I was crying so hard. Later that night I ended up going to Orange to get my son so he could come home and say goodbye to his beloved Ripley. Saturday morning we got up early and went to the vets and we sat in a little room with Ripley telling him how much we loved him and we were all crying and just trying to cope. It was really hard.
I have 17 more days until surgery. Tomorrow I go for an upper endoscopy and I sure hope they have somebody there who knows how to get an IV in on the first try. At my last surgery (for carpal tunnel release) I had four trys from two different nurses and then they gave up and send me to the operating room where the anesthesiologist got it on his second try all the while telling me if he didn't get it in my had (on the second try) he was going for my leg. Ugghhh! I hate IV's.
I am looking forward to the 23rd getting here and getting to the other side. That night will be the first night of the Splash and Boogie in Richmond - so I will be walking hospital halls that night (hopefully) thinking about all the people down there having a great time - next year it will be me!
I have 17 more days until surgery. Tomorrow I go for an upper endoscopy and I sure hope they have somebody there who knows how to get an IV in on the first try. At my last surgery (for carpal tunnel release) I had four trys from two different nurses and then they gave up and send me to the operating room where the anesthesiologist got it on his second try all the while telling me if he didn't get it in my had (on the second try) he was going for my leg. Ugghhh! I hate IV's.
I am looking forward to the 23rd getting here and getting to the other side. That night will be the first night of the Splash and Boogie in Richmond - so I will be walking hospital halls that night (hopefully) thinking about all the people down there having a great time - next year it will be me!
5-31-06
May 30, 2006
This Tuesday after hearing nothing from the surgeons office I called and asked them was I supposed to call them - were they supposed to call me? When was I going to hear about my pre-op stuff that I know I have to do. This guy on the phone had nothing about my surgery - according to him I was not on the schedule. He put me on hold and got another woman, Mary. She told me that they were not even scheduling the required endoscopy until July and I explained what Dr. Schirmer told me and how it would really screw me if they had to change the date because of my job and my docs being on vacation the same week I will be out. Well, she told me she would have to talk to Dr. Schirmer who was out of town until today (Wednesday) and she would call me back. At lunch time I was telling my boss what was going on and how just as we thought everything was in line to work out - it might not. As we were talking one of the front girls came in and said you have a phone call, do you want me to take a message. I told her no and went to the phone and it was Mary calling me back. Somebody Praise Mary! She is truly a miracle worker. She said she had to lie, beg and steal, but she got me my endoscopy appointment for June 7th at 8:45am and my gallbladder ultrasound, other pre-op testing and my pre-op appointment with Dr. Schirmer on June 15th and everything should be back in time for me to have surgery on schedule and she posted my surgery to the surgery board at the hospital.
Yippee! This thing is really happening. I'm really happy to be getting to a point where I can see the other side. I am still really scared though. I want to wake up on the other side and have a long happy life. I'm scared about leaving my kids and that is the hardest, but I am ready and I have plenty of people praying for me to come through okay so I am just going to be positive and do this.
Yippee! This thing is really happening. I'm really happy to be getting to a point where I can see the other side. I am still really scared though. I want to wake up on the other side and have a long happy life. I'm scared about leaving my kids and that is the hardest, but I am ready and I have plenty of people praying for me to come through okay so I am just going to be positive and do this.
