I started my wl journey 6/07.  I started out wanting the lap band, then when I found out that my insurance would cover the RNY I decided to get it, then after my last month of my 6 month of dieting I stumbled onto LeaAnn's blog about the DS (thank you LeaAnn).  Now I know that I want that surgery.  I know I don't want to have the RNY anymore.  I will have my DS!

After getting help from everyone on the DS board I have decided to have my surgery done by Dr. Anthone.  So, on April 7, I went to Nebraska for my consultation with Dr. Anthone.  My visit with him was wonderful.  He said that he and his staff gets really excited when people come from far off to see them.  Everyone there was wonderful...very nice people. 

After getting all of my tests done and losing 14 lbs. (I was supposed to lost 2 lbs. before they would do the surgery) I got my surgery date.  My surgery was scheduled for July 17, 2008!!  We flew to NE on July 14 so that I could go on the 15th for a nurse visit with Dr. Anthone's nurse Kathy.  Then on the 16th I had my surgery.  Here are all the "gory" details of my surgery (this is what I posted when I got back home from my surgery): 

I have had some people wanting me to post all the gory details about my surgery, so I finally got the chance to do it.  I'm sorry it has taken so long and that I didn't give all of the details in my first "I'm home" post. 

So here goes:   I had my "last meal" at the Olive Garden (my fave).  I got out of the doctors office that day at around 12:15 and I had to eat before 1 PM and nothing to eat after that.  There was a long wait and I didn't think we would be able to get in before 1 ,PM.  So my hubby told the girl that signs you in, the situation and they got us in at the cafe right quick.  Boy did we ever get some mean looks LOL.  When we left we tipped the girl for getting us in like she did.  I do wish I wouldn't have eaten so much because what goes in that day must come out that day!  I took my fleets around 3 PM and I was still having to crap the next morning right before they were going to give me the epidural.  I got the worst hemorrhoids I've ever had from having to go so much.  (gory detail #1)   I was nervous the morning of the surgery (July 16) but I wasn't wanting to back out or anything.  I knew I was in good hands with Dr. Anthone.  They started prepping me for surgery.  I remember that it took 3 sticks before they got a good vein and I remember having to go to the bathroom one more time (due to the wonderful fleets the day before)  I was afraid if I didn't go they would be cleaning me up on the operating tableI remember they were about to start the epidural but I don't even remember them giving me it.  I remember waking up in a lot of pain but not being able to express very well what I felt.  They must have got the gist of it because before I knew it I was out of it again.    The very next morning when Dr. A came around I was feeling great.  He asked if I wanted my NJ tube out and I said yeah.  Before I knew it his nurse grabbed a hold of it and told me to take a deep breath and she pulled out what looked like about 5 foot of nasty bloody tube.  I nearly got sick but it was over so quickly. (gory detail #2)    That nurse later told me that she had been there 8 months and I was the first one he had ever told her to take out the NJ tube that early.  He called me his stellar patient.     The next night I got to where I would quit breathing when I would doze off.  They realized that my epidural was set up too high and I was pushing my button so often that I was overdosing myself LOL (they assured me that I wouldn't be able to do that).  I guess that's why I felt so good.  They got it fixed for me but they all had their wires crossed and it took a long time before they got something going for pain management that I thought I was going to cry, I hurt so bad.   Oh yeah, they put me in a room with another lady that had diverticulitus.  It was soo hot in there I couldn't stand it.  I asked them if they could fix the air or something and they sent some men in to check out the thermostat.  They said it was fine.  And I heard my room mate say please don't make it any colder in here.  They told me to shut the blinds and that would help and they brought me a fan.  I continued to hear remarks from her family about momma I brought you a blanket in case you get cold, and man it sure is cold in here etc, etc.  You know, loud enough for me to hear it.  I had asked before I had my surgery for a private room but they didn't have one at the time.  I told one of the nurses that if they had a private room to move me to it because I didn't want to make her uncomfortable.  The nurse said she would get me one but not to worry about get the room colder because I was just out of surgery and she could cover up with a blanket if she was so cold.  She made sure to say it loud enough for her to hear it.   I couldn't help it.  I was fat and from the south and I live under the air conditioner.  She was skinny and from up north and she probably lived curled up to a fire place.  Anyway, they finally got me a private room and it was nice!  I had a nice view AND I got to watch fireworks on Friday (they do them on Friday nights at the baseball field).    Next step was to have the leak test.  I was really nervous about it because I hadn't been able to eat or drink and then I was expected to take three big gulps.  I had always heard not to take big gulps.  I tried to ask them about how much because I didn't know and they shrugged their shoulders and said just do it.  So I did and I was fine.  And I had no leaks.  YAY!    When they released me from the hospital, after about the second pain pill I took, I started having problems.  I could feel the pills scraping down the sides of my stomach and it started getting irritated to where I couldn't eat or drink.  That's when they told me to start using my j-tube.  I am so glad to have it, I still use it.  Note to pre-ops:  ask for liquid pain meds, even if the pills seem to be going down ok in the hospital.    While I was at the hotel I also had a hard time getting comfortable in the beds.  Unfortunately, they didn't have a recliner.  I was finally able to get comfortable with some stronger liquid pain meds and by using all of the pillows that were on the bed.    I had no problems on my flight home and I'm doing pretty good now.    I still have to use my j-tube but I'm doing good.  I don't know if I could get in all of my protein and fluids if I didn't have it right now though.  It is becoming very sore around it but I think its normal.  It's still working properly.  I hope I can keep it until about 6 to 8 weeks out.  I hear that's about the time a lot of people with this small of a stomach get to where they can eat more easily.    So that's my story with all the gory details (not to many gory parts I don't think).  I think I'm gonna love my DS once I get to where I can eat and drink more easily.  Oh and I've lost about 17 lbs. since surgery and a total of 31 lbs. since my consultation visit in April.   Sorry for the long post but I know there were some people waiting for it.  Finally got that done. 

So, now I'm at 8 weeks out (tomorrow -Sept. 10, 2008) and I'm doing well.  I'm so glad I had this surgery and I'm looking forward to a healthier future.