My husband and I decided that we both needed to have the gastric bypass surgery to help us with our weight loss battle.  We had saw a physician about 4 years ago about having the lap band done but after paying for a consultation out of pocket and our insurance not approving either one of us at that time we decided we would just try to watch what we ate.  Guess what it didn't work.  We gained more weight and continued to eat the wrong foods.

In November of 2004 I finally decided to go to the doctor to see about my gallbladder.  I had been suffering with attacks for about a year but just did not want to have surgery.  When I went to the doctor she ordered an ultrasound.  They called me back right away and not only did I have gallstones but they had also found something on my right kidney. They also had decided to put me on blood pressure medicine and confirmed that I was now officially a diabetic.  I had to go back and have CT scan and they found a tumor on my right kidney.  I then had to go see a nephrologist he said that my kidney would have to come out because he was almost positive it was malignant.  On November 19th they removed both my gallbladder and right kidney laparoscopically (with hand assist for the kidney).   The tumor did turn out to be renal cell carcinoma but luckily it was all contained inside the kidney.  No chemo or radiation just follow up scans for the next five years will hopefully do the trick!!

After trying to lose more weight due to my diabetes and one kidney with no luck, we once again decided we need to take some type of action.  In April of 2006 we attended a seminar of Dr. Boyce's.  Dr. Boyce seemed very concerned about the patient's risks after the surgery and had several steps in place to try to help avoid any complications.  We did a lot of research on the Internet and talked to several patients who had already had the gastric bypass surgery.  Everyone who had their procedure performed by Dr. Boyce only had good things to say.  We decided to go ahead and pursue trying to get approved for the gastric bypass.

We had all of our paperwork collected from our family physician, Dr. Kelly Baker, who wrote an awesome letter for the insurance company. I wanted to go first because I knew I would back out if anything went wrong with my husband's surgery.  Everything was submitted to BCBS of Texas and they approved my surgery within about a week.  I couldn't believe it!! My husband's info was then submitted, it took them a little longer to decide on his but eventually he was approved as well.   We decided we would wait until November to have the surgery.   

I had my surgery on 11/6/06 by Dr. Stephen Boyce in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Luckily, I came through the surgery with flying colors.  I was able to have my RNY laparoscopically with just a JP drain in.  I had one dose of pain medicine the night of surgery for a low grade fever.  Other than that one dose, I did not have to have any pain meds.  I stayed in the hospital for three days and then got to go home.  Once at home, it was a little easier trying to get all of the fluids in and working on the protein. 

I had a few days where I have craved different foods like a big cheeseburger!!  I also had a few days where I was ready to suck the cheese sauce off of some macaroni and cheese.  The good thing is I am not hungry at all. Most things don't sound good.  I went to Quizno's with my husband one day and just couldn't sit in there with him.  With all of the smells, pictures of their food, and his sandwich sitting very close to me I had to go outside.

After drinking the protein drinks for two weeks I was starting to get burnt out really bad.  I ordered some liquid whey protein from IDS which had 42 grams of protein for 3 ounces.  I thought that I could certainly drink 1 ounce of something that didn't taste good versus 8 ounces. WRONG!!  I would have been able to split this protein up into three different times throughout the day to get most of my protein in.  However, when it came it tasted so bad.  I managed to get one vial down and the rest of it is sitting in the pantry.  I went to GNC and got the Amplify (chocolate mint).  You can mix this with 8 ounces of skim milk and get about 28 grams of protein.  It tastes wonderful!! You can heat it up and drink it like a hot chocolate or freeze it and it's like mint chocolate ice cream!! 

11/20/06--- My husband's big day!!!! He was really nervous but ready to get things started.   He did really well and looked good after surgery.  He started having a lot of pain.  I hate it that he did not come through as well as me.

11/21/06-  My husband was having trouble getting the gas that they use during the laparoscopic surgery out.  He was having a lot of pain due to that.   I go for my first post op visit tomorrow, can't wait to see how much I have lost.