- Name: Jan S.
- Username: Jan.SJC
- Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA
- Member Since: 3/3/2007
- BMI: 26.0
- Post Op
- Surgery Type: RNY (07/11/07)
- Surgeon: Mir Ali, M.D.
Photos
I'm Not In Any Photos Yet.
Goals
No Public Goals Yet.
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I have been fighting to control my weight for years. I began to gain weight at age 18 when I got married and left home. Before that, my Mother ensured that nutrious food was all that was available at home. Since then, I've been gaining and dieting, the result of which is that I now have a BMI of about 44. When I was in my 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's, I always felt great. The weight didn't really cause much of a problem. But now that I am in my 60's, it's all catching up with me. High Blood Pressure, Arthritus, Shortness of Breath, Legs that Ache, etc. etc. So this is it - I am taking control once and for all!
More about me --- I am married since 1964. We have 3 Children & 10 Grandchildren. I have worked many years as a Controller for small and medium sized companies. I am currently unemployed.... don't know whether a new, wonderful job is out there looking for me OR if this is the time to begin to consider retirement. The jury is still out on this....
July 15th - July 21st First Week Home After Surgery on July 21, 2007 7:44 pm
OK, It's Saturday, and I have been home from the hospital one week. So far so good. I find the job of getting the liquids down to be very time consuming. If I take the liquids too fast, my pouch is very uncomfortable. I really need to space out the sips. My Doctor's goal for me at this stage is to get 64 oz liquid and 40 gm protein each day. Here's how I'm doing so far:
Sunday, July 15th 36 oz, 27 gm
Monday, July 16th 52 oz, 27 gm (really uncomfortable pouch)
Tuesday, July 17th 45 oz, 30.5 gm
Wednesday, July 18th 53 oz, 28 gm
Thursday, July 19th 40 oz, 35 gm
Friday, July 20th 49 oz, 39 gm
I find that I am getting up early (like 4:30 am) to get started on the liquids. Consequently, I am taking two naps a day. I feel like my body really needs the naps. I believe I am healing very well & I think extra sleep helps. I also take 8 oz of water upstairs with me at night, so that when I get up to use the bathroom I always take a drink before I go back to sleep. I see this time for healing - not even trying to accomplish anything else.
The first couple of days home, I could only sleep on my back (not my favorite way to sleep!). By about Thursday, I tenetatively tried sleeping on my stomache & did ok with that. Now, I sleep on my stomach about 1/4 of the time, which feels very good to me.
Today I finally took the scissors to my belly binder. I trimmed about 4-1/2 inches off the height. I don't know why I waited so long. I think this thing was made for a man 6'6" & I'm only 5'3". Now it no longer binds my breasts and my legs - Eureka!!!! I don't wear it all the time, but it is kind of protective for the surgical area.
I am very concerned about Marguerite Scott, who had surgery the same day that I did & was still in ICU at the last update. I pray for her daily & wish that I could do more.
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July 11th - July 14th - Fountain Valley Hospital... on July 18, 2007 12:33 pm
OK, I will attempt to reiterate all my experiences in the hospital.
Arrived at 5:00 am. Paperwork done quickly, then my husband & I were shown to my room - a Private Room & BIG too! I changed into a gown & got weighed. I don't remember too much more, so things must have moved rather quickly. I think they brought a gurney there & wheeled me to the staging area for surgery. DH got to come too. DeeDee from Dr. Ali's office was my first visitor there to see if everything was ok & see if I had any questions. The nurse in preop was great - checking vitals, my id label, which surgery I was getting, etc. Soon Dr. Ali came by to see if I had any questions. I didn't, so he said we'd start as soon as the anestesiologist arrived. That happened almost immediately. I told him that I have sometimes gotten naseated after anesthesia and he said "no problem, he can give me something to prevent that". Then, they put me to sleep & the show began.
Next thing I know I heard someone calling my name & saying, "Jan, you're in the recover room, you've just had surgery". For some reason, I panicked (I tend to overreact sometimes). I was frantic for a moment or two. They would not let my husband in recover (he always calms me down, just by touching me). I don't remember any more about recover, I guess I was still pretty doped up. I vauguely remember riding in the bed (is it called a guerney?) to my room.
Once in my room, I had to scoot to my bed. At this point I had an IV line, oxygen, and they put my feet in little slippers that pulsed periodically to improve circulation & prevent blood clots. A short time later, they hooked up a catheter, so now --- drumroll, please.........
I am connected 4 ways - IV, feet, oxygen & catheter. No wonder I began to feel trapped. I did somehow get up to walk. I know my husband helped, but I think the nurse may have been there too. After that I calmed down & rested. I remember my daughter came to visit & brought flowers. I was not too uncomfortable, but I was pushing the button whenever I felt in pain. I remember the nurses expressing some concern about my blood pressure, but it was about 9 pm, and I was getting ready to nod off - so I graciously told DH he could go home to sleep (he's no doubt wiped out too!).
Next thing I know, they say "Jan, you CAN'T go to sleep - your blood pressure is too low, you must stay awake". They rolled me into ICU, where it seems I had my own nurse. They kept me awake & monitored everything - I remember at one point my bp was 50/36. About 11 pm I started to realize this could be a problem, & I asked the nurse to call my husband & see if he could come be with me. He had caught a couple hours of sleep, but headed right back. I don't recall any specific treatment, but I no longer had pain meds - they felt that the combination of my bp meds and morphine were the cause of my falling bp. So, no more morphine. By the next morning, they had jello for me & also had ordered an echocardiogram. They said the decision to keep me in ICU or return me to the floor depended on the cardiologist who consulted. Unfortunately, this cardiologist wouldn't consult with me or my husband. Somthing about him not accepting my insurance! He did sign off for me to be returned to the regular room.
Of course my room was now gone (along with the flowers my DD had brought!) & I got an identical room a couple doors down. I settled in there & began with the 1 oz portions of juice, water & jello. Also, walking. I felt so trapped (as described earlier), & needed my DH to help with everything. The tray of fluids was always just out of reach. To get out of bed, I needed help - not only with the paraphanalia, but also just maneuvering this big body. I know I pulled in the tender area more than once. The nurses were so nice - they said DH could spend the night. In fact, the love seat made into a bed & they were willing to bring blankets & pillows for him. Well, opening the love seat was no bigger than sleeping across it, so he left it folded up & slep with his legs hanging over. So for him - 1 night in ICU (sleeping upright in a chair when he could) and 2 nights on this love seat. I don't know how I could have made it if he hadn't stayed.
OK, here's the bad part - I was freeked out. I felt so trapped, so helpless, so sore. On THursday & Friday, I thought I had made the biggest mistake of OUR LIVES ---- Yes, I thought I might be an invalid forever & my husband might have to care for me for as long as I lived, all because I made this stupid mistake & couldn't control my weight with self-discipline. It was really a downer. I don't have much experience with depression or panic attacks, but I know I wasn't right in my head - I was quietly hysterical. Thank God, my DH has more sense & was there to help & calm me!
I got up as much as I could, I just took cat-naps in between. Even at night, they come in to replace the IV drip, check your blood pressure & temperature, and even draw blood every night at 3 am. I felt like a pincushion. I know others must be much braver and independent than I am, and I'm sure the nursing staff would have helped more if I asked - but I so relied on DH --- without him, I would not / could not have done this.
Friday, late afternoon, I had to get a chest xray - I think because I had some pressure & maybe because I had so much shortness of breath.
Saturday, I got released. Ashley, Dr.Ali's PA came by to check me & release me & answer any questions. She is wonderful. Also, I must say, I believe Dr. Ali came to see me each day and whenever I needed anything, the nurse staff called Dr. Ali's office & Dr. Francis, who was on call, responded & gave instructions in no time at all. I couldn't be more pleased about the staff at Dr. Ali's office.
After all that, they disconnected me from everything --- BUT, couldn't go home till I could pee an adequate amount. So, sip, sip sip, wait, sip, sip, walk, sip, sip, walk & wait & finally !!!!! I got sprung by about 12:30 or 1 pm. Overall, I was well cared for, but I don't like being in the hospital.
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July 11, 2007 on July 10, 2007 11:03 pm
Ode to My OH Friends
July 11, 2007 by Jan Smith
I looked in the mirror, and wanted to cry
What had happened to me in the bye and bye?
The smile gone sad, the eyes gone bleary
The body so big and ever so weary.
Where is the girl with the spring in her step?
The one that had fun, with plenty of pep.
She's not in the mirror; she's nowhere in sight,
What I see now is just a fright.
I tried and I tried, and sometimes lost some,
But sooner or later, the diet was done.
And when it was, I ate and I ate,
And oh so quickly, took back all that weight.
I said to my Doctor, what do you think?
Is there a chance that I ever could shrink?
And keep it off long-term, this was my plea,
Will the girl inside me never be free?
And he sent me for help, yet it was all up to me.I learned of the tools, and I started to see.
But it wasn't that simple, I found out so soon,
I needed to learn to sing a new tune.
And that's when I found, to my great delight,
At the end of the tunnel, a very bright light.
And holding the light, bright and steady to see,
Were the people at OH, who were looking for me.
They'd been here before, and knew where I was.
And as I walked forward, I heard their applause.
They showed me so much of the journey ahead,
And helped me to face it, without any dread.
How can I thank them, what can I do?
I had nothing to offer, and I started to stew.
I had to do something, return in some way,
The help I'd been given, day after day.
And then an idea began to take hold.
I could walk the new walk, and do as I'm told,
By doctors and those who've been there before.
Though I might feel like hiding and finding the door.
I'll do as they say, and take very good care,
I'll be healthy and strong, with energy to spare,
And after a time, in the mirror will appear
That girl who'd been lost and you'll all hear the cheer!
And when in that tunnel a new face appears,
I'll be there for sure, along with my peers.
To do what we can to help them along,
And light up the path, to help them be strong.
These friends are forever; we'll share as we learn,
And yes, when I need it, they'll even be stern.
Then, together we'll find, that by using our tool,That food's not in charge, and health is the rule.
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July 6, 2007 on July 6, 2007 3:48 pm
Five more days! I am so ready. 95% positive, excited, can't wait & 5%  . Cindy will post on the OFF board when she gets the word that I'm out of surgery & all is well. I feel like so much love & support is going with me into the operating room. I am so blessed to have family, old friends, and my new OH friends all right with me & willing to help in any way. I even have a friend from my piano class who is a retired RN who has offered to come take care of me when I get released !!!! WOW, I have never felt so spoiled! My husband is now doing the one task I have been unable to do --- throwing away all the bad food in our home. For some reason (early childhood training), I am unable to waste food. My inclination would be to eat it rather than waste it. Look where that kind of attitude has gotten me! I hear over & over again to follow the Doctor's order to a 'T' and that's what I plan to do. I don't care if I EVER enjoy food again. I will never drink alcohol again. I will never eat foods with added sugar again. Over. Finished. I am getting healthy. Everything is taken care of --- I am not employed right now, so no worries there. My children are all grown, so not only no problem ---- they can help me when needed. My Mom is doing well & my Sister and my Daughters will look in on her while I am recouping, so no reason to worry there. I AM READY !!!!! For future reference, if I EVER do Stupid Things to My Body - please do not go easy on me ---- Read me the Riot Act!!!! Kick me in the A**!!! This is my chance & I will not blow it.
My Reasons for WLS on May 29, 2007 7:48 am
So that I don't run out of breath when I climb one flight of stairs - Three Months
So when I play duets, half of my rear doesn't hang off the piano bench - Seven Months
So that my blood pressure will be lower without as many meds - 4-1/2 Months Off One of Three Meds
So my legs won't swell when I stand or walk - Three Months
So that I can stop buying clothes that I hate - 4-1/2 Months Size 16/16
So that I can tie my shoes without worrying about tipping over - 3 Months
So that I can go to Disneyland - 6-1/2 Months
So that I won't damage my kidneys - In Process
So that I can stop hating all the mirrors in the world - In Process
So that my knees won't hurt quite so much - Three Months
So that I can enjoy my next vacation - Had a vacation in March/April 2007 & it was wonderful!
So that I will be more comfortable riding the scooter - April 2008
So that Ron won't have to leave me behind because of my low energy - Three Months
So that I can no longer shop for Plus Sized clothing - 4-1/2 Months Size 16/18
So that I can stop hiding from cameras - March 2008, I am thrilled to be in the Photos
So that I can think about something else besides food all day long - In Process, Probably for my Whole Life
So that I can be an "after" instead of a "before" - In Process
So that I no longer do damage to the body my Parents gave me - I think this began immediately after surgery.
So that it will be easy to cut my toenails - Two Months
So that I will no longer be afraid of the Eliptical - Nine Months
So that I won't get crumbs on my chest when I eat - One Month (wouldn't you know, this would be the First WOW?)
So that getting in out out of Motorhome will be easier - March 2008
So that I can cross my legs - Six Months
So that my heart will sing - One Month
*** If I can achieve even 50% of these in one year, I will be so happy!
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