Finally!

I am finally back down to my pre-surgery weight (minus 1lb)!! I am so happy!!! It has been kinda discouraging this week to see my weight so much higher than before the surgery (6.8lbs at my checkup 4 days post surgery - especially since I haven't been able to eat much (averaging 800 calories). I know that most of it was water weight from the surgery, but several people who had the surgery near mine had lost as much as I had gained. It is so strange how different everyone is!

I haven't been on much (and have tons of blogs to catch up on!). I went up to my parents for Thanksgiving (even though we decided not to celebrate this year) and my parents drove me back home for the weekend so we could go to the Detroit Piston's game today. It was a blast! We had great seats - 1 row up from the floor right next to the players' entrance. The only bad part was all the stairs. OMG! I am still in pain and had to take some pain meds again (so much for driving today). The worst part is the incision where the port is. It actually felt like it was pulling, but I got my exercise in :)

I hope everyone else had a great holiday and hopefully I will catch up with everyone's blogs by tomorrow.

Surgery Story.

Since my dad is down here working on my house and won’t let me lift a finger, I figure this is a good time to update my blog before I forget what I want to write. BTW, I love my dad!

Surgery Day

I had a hard time sleeping the night before the surgery. It seemed like I just feel asleep when my alarm went off (5am). We (mom, dad and I) left the hotel a little before 6 and got to the hospital a few minutes later. It took a lot less time than what we thought, but better safe than sorry. We had to check in through security because of the flu quarantine, but then we heeded up to surgery check-in.

Once I checked in we were shown a room and I was given one of their new fangled gowns. It even had instructions! Once I had it on and lay down they hooked the gown up to a heater and boy did it work well. It took a while for me to figure out that I could turn the temperature using the remote. I felt so stupid since the instructions were sitting on my lap still :)

I was in preop for about an hour and half. The first thing that happened is I got a breathing treatment. I was a little surprised, since they have never done this before. However, after the episode that I had after the Endoscope a month earlier I shouldn’t have been. After the breathing treatment they came in and put the IV in. It was a breeze. They numbed the area first and then put the IV in on the first try. My veins have a tendency to roll so I was very happy. After the IV they gave me a blood thinner shot in my abdomen and some “calming” meds in my IV.

Next I met surgeon’s assistant. I am not sure if he was in training or what, but he just introduced himself and reviewed my chart. The Anesthesiologist came in a few minutes later to review my chart and to get my approval. She was great. Easily one of the best I have had. She was extremely personable and seemed very knowledgeable. I already trusted her more due to the breathing treatment, but she explained why I had problems before with breathing tubes in the past and said how she would do things different. When she said she had 25 years of experience both my mom and I had to look twice.

Along the way I met the Surgeon’s PA, Steve. He is the PA that works out of the Surgeon’s main office and he was the one I was told could answer all my questions. However, by the time I met him I couldn’t remember any of the questions I had. He reviewed my chart and asked a few questions and was on his way. He went over the surgery and said that it should only take a half an hour and that we would be ready to go as soon as the doctor arrived. Soon after the nurse came in to give me one last drug to dry me out – luckily this was administered in my IV not in the rear end like in all my other surgeries.

A few minutes to 8, I was wheeled down to the OR. Once in the room I had to switch beds and as soon I as I got the second bed I heard the Anesthesiologist say that she had started giving me medication. In my prior surgeries I wasn’t given any meds until after they had hooked me up to all the machines (blood pressure, O2 monitor, heart monitor, etc...). Then they normally placed a oxygen mask over my face and made me breathe deep – within a couple minutes I would be out. This time they placed the oxygen mask next to my mouth (not covering it) and began to hook me up. Within seconds I was out. I didn’t have any time to get nervous or anything.

The next thing I new I was in recovery. And honestly the first thought I had was “what in the world did I get myself into!” There was so much pain. I remember moaning into the oxygen mask and the nurse telling me to breathe deeply and she would give me some pain meds. She said that a few times over the next hour or so. Even though the pain was bad as things started to smooth out I noticed that several other patients had been moved in. Every other patient was being told a similar thing, but their alarms were going off showing that the needed to breath deeper. I was very happy that I didn’t have a single bell go off. The breathing treatment really worked wonders for me! Not that the alarms are that big of deal it is more a reminder than anything at that point, but in the past I have struggled so to have very little problems was great.

After the pain was under control (or so I thought), I was sent to radiology for my swallow test. Once there I needed to stand up for my x-rays. However, even though they had two techs to speed things up the guy reading the test wasn’t there yet. After standing for a while, they finally got me a chair – probably because they thought I was going to fall over on them. I really wish I would have 1 more shot before going down there. By the time, the right guy was down there I was really questioning what I had done. However, the test itself only took a few minutes to finish and then I was off to post-op.

Once it post-op I was a little bummed to have gotten the rotten nurse from last time. She was the type of nurse that was just too busy and didn’t have a lot of patience. Her goal was to get you out as fast as possible and for her benefit not yours. Last time she tried to get me out before they even arrived with breathing treatment that was ordered after my endoscope. My mom noticed that when they said that two more bariatric patients were on their way up she sighed and rolled her eyes. I guess we take more time since we can’t have any drinks (and therefore can’t pee) until after the swallow test comes back. Since you can’t leave until you do both it slow things down.

However, she had two people assisting her and they were great. I had to wait a long time for my next pain shot (she was too busy), but once I had it I started to feel much better pain wise, but overall I felt really “icky”. I didn’t know how to explain it, but I told her I felt the same way I feel when my blood sugar is too low (I am hypoglycemic and insulin resistant). She blew it off and never checked my blood sugars (even though my primary doctor asked them to monitor them).

I saw the doctor for a few moments (first time that day). He asked if I was ready for surgery, but since I was feeling pretty icky I didn’t laugh that much  He had already talked to my parents and said everything went perfect, but he didn’t say (and we forgot to ask) if he fixed the hernia. I am guessing he did, but I still have forgotten to ask.

About an hour after being in post-op I was approved to drink. Within a few minutes I was sipping on watered down apple juice (thanks to the nice nurse). They also brought my last pain meds in liquid form so they lasted long enough to get me home. A few minutes later I was asking to go to the bathroom and another nice nurse helped me out so I didn’t flash everyone in the area like I am sure I did in radiology.

After that I was cleared to head home. I just had to have the IV removed and get dressed. I had to have my mom put my shoes on and tie them up, but since I packed really easy PJs the rest was pretty easy. A few minutes later I was on my way home.

Recovery after Surgery

Once I got home I felt pretty good. I took a quick nap, but then was up and watching TV (and went downstairs to light the pilot) By the next day I was ready to start moving around. My mom and I went to pick the dog up around 10am and took a quick walk around the pet store for 15 mins. Around 3 we went to Kmart and walked around for another 30 mins. After that I was a little tired so we went home, but all in it was a good day - plus my dad sent me flowers :)

Since then I have been more and more active each day. Until today the pain was pretty strong. The gas pains in my shoulder and diaphragm have probably been the worst, except for the hiccups. When I hiccup I think I can actually feel my band – and it hurts. The worst is at night. The first night when I woke up I felt like I had been hit by a car. I took some pain meds and walked off the gas a couple times during the night. All in all the pain was pretty easily managed with the meds they gave me – I just hate taking them. Luckily I didn’t suffer from the endless sleepiness that normally accompanies me taking narcotics. I tried to switch to just plain Tylenol yesterday, but it didn’t work. Today though I haven’t taken any Lortab, but I probably will take some tonight.

So that takes us my story up to today :). Long I know, but I am sure that a week from now I won’t remember all the details let alone a year from now. And a year from now I want to look back at what I did and hopefully all the good things that happened from having the surgery. I can’t wait!

I'm Home!

The surgery went great!  A little more pain than I was expecting compared to what I remember of my old surgerys, but that is only to be expected and it was controlled after a bit.   All in all I was in the hospital for about 6.5 hrs or so.  1.5 hrs preop and 1.5 hrs post op.  The rest was mostly recovery since the surgery was pretty quick (max 45 minutes).  The doctor told my parents that it went great so I am very happy. 

I took a little nap when I got home, but felt like getting up and moving around.  So now I am sitting in front of the TV (watching Project Runway) and sipping some crystal light.  The only thing tht is bothering me right now is the random hicup - ouch! 

 I only wish I had someone to light my furnance (the pilot blew out - again). My mom doesn't know how so I am going to have to walk down the stairs later and help her out.  She said that she would  figure it out, but I know the first time I had to do it I had a really hard time.  It isn't too bad for me since I like cold, but it may get too cold for my mom (and animals) tonight.  However, if I don't feel up to going down I won't.  My mom said that she can just bundle up and I am boiling water to get the humidty up which really helps heat my house up.  Now, I just hope Michigan weather doesn't do something crazy like snow tonight. 

Thanks for all the good wishs,
Tracy

PS. Please excuse any grammer or spelling errors my mind isn't 100% up and running yet :)

Birthday and the day before Surgery!

So today has been a little strange for a birthday. In fact, I forgot it was my birthday until someone texted me this morning (granted it was early). I spent most of today cleaning the house since my mom will be staying with me for a few days and my dad for a couple days after that (since I can't drive for 10 days). Plus it kept my mind busy :)




Now I am sitting in the hotel room waiting for my parents to arrive watching a christmas movie on TV.. I am starting to feel a little nervous, but I am not sure why. I have had surgery several times before and never got nervous (until they wheeled me into the OR, but I think that is normal). I think it is because I have had so long to think about this. In the past, things have happened so fast there really wasn't much time to really think about things. Plus I think that it isn't really the surgery that I am nervous about, but the life afterwards. I mean no matter what good things will come it will be a huge change in my life.



Well my parents should be here soon so I better go. Only 12 more hours to go!!! Wait only 11 hours - my surgery was pushed up an hour :)

Medically Cleared!!!

…with less than 15 minutes to spare! Talk about cutting it close. I was woke up this morning with a call from the surgeon’s office - so much for staying up late since I could sleep in :) I found out that the doctor’s office didn’t get the Echo results yet, so they wouldn’t write up the clearance – or call me back I guess…grrr…. And since the doctor is out on Thursdays I had to get everything by the time they closed today.

Of course this ticked me off since I was told several times by the Lab that my results would be there in plenty of time. In fact, the person doing the appointmentw seem offended that I even asked. The tech doing the echo even said that she would write down that I needed it for surgery in 10 days so it wouldn’t get delayed. But of course, it did.

I called the lab and they told me THEY didn’t have the results yet, but they expected them to be posted soon. I had to laugh at this point. They made it sound like there was nothing that could be done except wait until they posted later in the day if they did. So I waited for a while, but then I decided that my presence in their waiting room might do more things than a voice on a phone so I drove over to the Medical Village.

I spent some time waiting in Radiology only to find out that the office reading it was just upstairs - not in some far off location like they made it sound earlier. With 1 little phone call they were able to fax it down – why they didn’t do that at 8am I will never know. However, I was extremely lucky since the lady who was able to make that phone call was gone for the day. She was in her coat when she was talking to me and left before it was faxed down, so if I was a minute or two later I would have missed her.

Luckily, I got a copy in time and ran it down the hall to my doctor’s. Waited some more. Got the medical clearance. Ran up the stairs to the surgeon’s office. Found out that it wasn’t good enough (didn’t actually say “medically cleared”). Ran back down stairs. Waited some more. Finally got the words I needed at about 4:45pm.

Good news is I have had about 100 calories today and with all the stress I am not even hungry. Great news is I AM HAVING SURGERY ON FRIDAY!!!!!

2 days!

OMG – Only two days left! I can’t believe how fast the last few weeks have gone. I can’t wait for Friday. I am so ready. I still have 4 lbs to lose before hitting my pre-surgery goal. I thought I was closer, but I found out that my scale is a little sensitive on where you stand. I was standing too close to the front and that is probably why I thought I lost 4lbs in 2 days a few days ago. Oh.. well I am still down 11lbs in total and probably 6lbs this week so I am still happy.


I still haven’t got my medical clearance from my primary doctor yet and it is starting to drive me crazy. I just wish someone would give me a call and let me know what is going on. If my Echo really did turn out bad and I need to delay the surgery then I would just like to know soon. Talk about cutting this short… grr…

I have been struggling a little with the pre-surgery diet. I was supposed to travel the first week so I had talked to my nutritionist about non-liquid options when dining out, but when my travel was canceled I started to follow the diet as written. The first couple days I got so hungry that I decided to change things up a little. I stayed within the nutritional limits, but instead of a protein drink and a serving of vegetables I did a salad with chicken. It was great! I used about 2 cups of shredded lettuce , ½ cup of raw vegetables, 3oz of grilled chicken, fat free salsa and fat free sour cream (instead of dressing). It was very filling and made the days so much easier.

However, by yesterday I was soo burned out that I couldn’t even stand the idea of having that salad again. Plus this is my furlough week and it is making sticking to this so much harder. I have too much time on my hands to think and develop my mental hunger. And that extremely empty stomach type of physical hunger is actually a huge trigger for my mental hunger. Normally, when I get that extreme physical hunger I end up eating way too much of really bad food. I was so tempted to run out last night and have just one last “real” meal.

Instead, I decided to fix myself something at home that fit within my available calories, protein, and carbs for the day – a tuna salad in a tortilla. The fat content was slightly higher than I normally would have had with the diet (only had full fat mayo for some odd reason), but so much better that anything I could have gotten if I had went out. And after my stomach had something in it the mental hunger was controllable.

Tomorrow I start the pure liquid diet – clear liquids only. Thankfully it is only two days, but I really wish I had picked another week to do my furlough. Unfortunately, when we had to pick weeks in May I thought this week would be great since my Birthday is on Thursday. But on the positive side I don’t have to wait any longer for surgery and my Bandiversary and Birthday can be celebrated together in the future. It will be something great to look forward to!

10 lbs!

I am starting day 4 (of 10) on my preop diet and my wieght loss is now at 10lbs!  My goal is to hit 15 by next Friday, which since I had lost 8lbs prior to the preop diet I thought would be a breeeze.  However, I kinda splurged a little more than planned right before and gained a few pounds back.  Now I have lost those PLUS 2 more!! Yippee!!

Virtual Me

I have been having a little fun with a virtual wight loss program offered by My Virtual Model.  The model on the left is "me" at 275 - my starting weight and the one on the right is me at my surgeon's target BMI of 30 (180lbs). 

The first time I thought about being 180 I had a mixture of feelings going through my head. I was both happy with the goal being realistic and healthy, but was also a little disappointed.  The last time I was at 180 I was in high school and I thought of myself as so much heavier than most of my classmates.  I mean, after going through WLS I want don't want to still feel FAT.

Now after having that number in my head for a month I feel much better. First, reaching a BMI of 30 is great! It virtually eliminates all the health risks with being overweight. Plus as I reflect back, I realized that my memories of my weight and body were pretty distorted - surprise surprise :) I didn't stick out like a sore thumb and I could do everything that other people could do.

Plus 180 doesn’t need to be a stopping point. I am not sure what my end goal will be – maybe 150? But I think I look great at 180 and I am sure it will feel sooo good.

Sooo Hungry

Ok this is nuts!! Today is day 1 of the Pre-Op diet and I am sooooo hungry. In the past ,I have skipped meals when I am busy working and would just be getting hungry for lunch. Now, after two meal replacement shakes and a serving of yogurt my stomach is growling. I would swear my mind is playing tricks on me, but this isn’t just a case of the munchies like I normally get with “mental” hunger. My stomach is make so much noise my puppy is starting to look at me funny.


At least it means 1 day closer and luckily my pre-op diet includes many more options than some. I think I just need to play around with the timing of my “meals” and snacks. Only 9 days to go!!!!!

12 days!

I can’t believe the surgery is only 12 days away! People have asked me if I am nervous or excited and neither one seems to really fit. It is more a little of both - or a lot of both when it is on my mind. Which I figure is pretty much normal. However, I wish the 20th was here already :)


I feel like I have accomplished a lot over the last few weeks. I have almost everything I need food wise for at least the next few weeks, plus I have made good progress cleaning out my closet and my kitchen. In fact, I have done such a good job of empting my cupboards I am not sure what my parents are going to eat when they come done after my surgery. LOL

Since I am furlough next week and on medical leave the next two weeks, I expect this week to be extremely hectic. I am thinking of canceling my trip to Cleveland (for work) since I can’t really spare the 10 hours on the road – especially since I also have to take half of Tuesday off for the Echo. However, since the only reason they really want us there is to have a team dinner, that I can’t really eat, I am hoping my boss doesn’t mind. I really should have used this weekend to get some work done, but since I have worked the last few weekends I don’t feel too guilty – not that I should feel guilty anyways!

Well I should probably hit the sack since I have an early morning meeting tomorrow. I still can’t believe that I only have 12 days left!!

Almost there!

It is amazing to think that it is November already. And with the arrival of November the reality of my surgery happening is starting to seep in. Only 16 days! It still doesn’t seem real.


Last week I had an appointment at the hospital for my pre-admission testing. It was a little interesting since they had the hospital in “flu lockdown”. I was running a little late and when I ended up having to take a longer route to the check-in desk since everyone was being filtered through one entrance and had to be screened before entering. I know that they won’t catch everybody since it takes a few days before you show symptoms, but I really like the concept.

Right now the only thing I still need is my medical clearance from my primary dr. Hopefully, I will get that by next Friday since the Echo is scheduled for Tuesday. If not I have the next week off (furlough) so I will just camp in their office until they give it to me!!

So far I have picked out a few protein powders that I like including several that can be used during the clear liquid stage. With my low sugar I wouldn’t make it 2 days on jello and koolaid so I am glad I found something that I like. I am glad that I started trying and buying these a while ago. This way I am assured that I will have something I like plus since I was able to spread the costs out over a couple months so I was able to buy several different flavors to give me a good variety.

I feel pretty prepared, but I have a couple more things to get before everything set. It is funny because I am normally not an organized person, but it is a major way I deal with stress. As I become more prepared and organized I feel more in control and less stressed. Luckily, most people in my life don’t mind my spurts of being a control freak. It helps that as the stress goes away so does the need to organize :)