Well, as an update, I haven't had surgery yet.  Things went haywire when I went to Pennsylvania to have everything done.  Here's a description of how it went.

I left on Tuesday the 26th of June to head to Pennsylvania.  I had an appointment with the pulmonologist that day and I had to stop at the hospital first to have a chest x-ray done.  All that went fine.  The pulmonologist told me he didn't see any reason to stop surgery at this point.  

I spent the next couple of days hanging out at the hotel and doing a bit of shopping.  The Residence Inn in Scranton is fantastic.  I was very impressed.  The people are great and they serve breakfast and dinner every day and it's actually good food.  

While I was there I got to meet Michelle A and her sister.  Michelle had surgery the week before and looked wonderful!  She was getting ready to head home the next day.  I am very glad we got to spend some time together. :)  She's a very cool lady!

I met with Dr. Peters on the 28th and the nutritionist.  Both appointments went fine.  We talked about surgery and the greenfield filter and all.  There weren't any suprises.  Joe and the puppy arrived on Thursday night. 

Friday morning I got up really early to be at the hospital at 6:30 to have the Greenfield filter put in.   Everything was fine until they gave me the 'light sedation'.  Apparently, I react badly to the medication that they used and became very aggitated.  I don't rememeber it but Joe was there and said that I was quite aggitated.  The anesthesiologist assumed I didn't have enough so gave me more of the same medication.  This caused me to be even more aggitated.  This is a very rare reaction to the IV sedation.  I actually forgot to mention to the anesthesiologist that I had the same type of reaction several years ago during a dental procedure.  The whole problem could have been avoided if I had remembered to tell them about that.  Finally, Dr. Peters decided to just go ahead and put me completely out and put me on a vent and do the procedure, figuring they'd have me off the vent quickly and all would be fine.  The procedure went fine.  They took me to recovery and attempted to wean me from the ventilator by waking me up.  The medication they had originally given me was still in my  system (it had only been about an hour) and i became very aggitated and combative.  My oxygen levels dropped and they sedated me again.  

A while later they tried again.  this time, I remember.  I woke up and couldn't breathe.  It was as if someone was putting their finger over the end of the tube.  I couldn't get air in or out.  It was very scary.  I was trying to sit up and they had four people trying to keep me on the bed.  Joe was there and I heard them asking the family to leave.  Joe left and went back to the hotel.  I felt so bad for him.  I don't ever want him to go through that again.  Needless to say, they sedated me again.  

The next thing I remember, i woke up still on the ventilator.  I could breathe OK so I wasn't panicking.  Someone immediately brought me a letter board to comminicate with them.  I was able to tell them what I needed.  I had been out for about 12 hours.  It was after 7 in the evening at this point.  Within an hour or so they had me off the vent and had pulled some of the other tubes and such.  They decided to keep me overnight to monitor me.  

They moved me to a stepdown unit and all was well until I was discharged the next day around 12:30.  They left the central line in my neck since I was scheduled for surgery on Monday.  It was very annoying where it was located and it just looked bad so i didn't intend to go out much since there wasn't any way to cover it.  We just stayed around the hotel Saturday after being discharged.  All was well and we had a lovely time.  

Sunday morning I woke up and I didn't feel well.  I was aching all over and felt feverish.  I was also having trouble with my breathing.  I went through the day just figuring that the problem was related to the trauma my body had been through.   Around 5:30 Joe went out and bought a  thermometer.  I had a fever of 101.5.  I called Dr. P.  He wanted me to head to the ER to be checked for infection and anything else that might be going on.  They did all kinds of blood work and a CT scan of my chest.  They found that I had a UTI (from the foley catheter) and the insertion site for the filter was positive for bacteria as well.  They sent me back to the hotel with antibiotics.  I spoke wiht dr. P and we decided to postpone the surgery.  

On Monday I went and Dr. Peters removed the central line.  He did say that he'd be willing to surgery then if I wanted but I think he was joking. :)  Joe and I headed home after that.  

Surgery is now rescheduled for August 6th.  Another month to wait.  Its OK though.  I'm on God's schedule.   Not mine.  I don't mind.  I know it will happen.  Hopefully, the surgery will go very smoothly.  I'm sure it will.  

This has been such an adventure so far.  I'm looking forward to the other side.  I want to be able to help those that follow behind me.  

That's it for now.   I'll update as I get closer to the date. 

Today is my birthday.  I'm 42 today.  It's funny, I feel so different on this birthday than i have on the past couple of birthdays.  Last year and the year before I asked my husband to keep it very low key.  I didn't want a cake or a party or anything.  I just wanted to pretend it didn't happen.  Well, this year is different.  I want to celebrate!  I even insisted on having a cake. :)  We had dinner with my husband's parents at a local restaurant and we brought the cake.  We had a great time.

I'm not sure why I feel so different this year.  I think I've come to appreciate life more.  It has been a very difficult couple of years and I realize now that each day is a gift.  I am greatful for every day that I get up and I can get out of bed and get through the day without too much difficulty.  Before I just took each day for granted.  i realize now how good God is to me.  

My excitement and anxiety are both growing by day.  I am two weeks from surgery and I leave for PA in a week and two days.  IT's all happening so fast again.  I'm amazed.  The good news is I'm not sick anymore.  I'm done taking the antibiotics.  I'm finished with all of my tests and Dr. Peters should have all the results by tomorrow.  

This week is going to be dedicated to getting everything together for the trip.  I'll also be making sure all of my arrangements are made and set in stone.  I confirmed all of my 'help' tonight.  DH will be coming on Thursday before surgery and staying through the following Wednesday.  My brother will be coming on Wednesday and staying till Sunday.  My MIL will be coming on Sunday and staying until I come home.  She's an amazing woman that has been a mother figure to me since I became part of the family.  I love her dearly and am very excited that she agreed to come and stay with me.  

Once all the plans are confirmed it's time to just sit back and relax for a while.  I'll probably get a manicure, pedicure and hair cut this week too.  I also need to color my hair before I go.  I'll need to go shopping for nightgowns for after surgery too.  From what I understand I'll just need cheap ones in case they get ruined from blood or other stuff.

I think I'm very excited about the upcoming year.  I am very curious to see what 42 will bring.  I'm very hopeful that it will be all good. :)

I'm so glad that I found this forum.  The people here have become such a special part of my life.  I was talking to my DH tonight about who he'll need to contact while I'm in the hospital.  i'm going to try to get him and Darlene (the most incredible angel in the whole world) to speak before I go for surgery so that they're comfortable with each other.  

I know that the people here will be saying prayers and swinging chickens and sending positive thoughts my way and it will bring me through surgery and recovery in such a positive light.  I have never met such an amazing group of people that genuinely cared for each other.  I truly believe that God sent me to this forum.  

I'll update more as time permits...

6-2-07 
Tonight I'm sitting here thinking about how this whole process has gone for me.  It's been quite an ordeal and I'm wondering what would be different if even one part had changed along the way.  

I've been researching and wanting WLS for five years now.  That's a long time.  it kind of amazes me because I'm not a patient person.  I want what I want and I want it now.  Maybe one of the things that this has taught me is that we are on God's time.  Not ours.  

I know that God has a plan for me and that all of the things that I'm going through now are for a reason.  I consider myself lucky because although i have a couple of very nasty health problems, I have a wonderful support system including my family and my husband and my God.  Noone could ask for a better combination.  

So, all that being said, my surgery has been delayed.  I ended up having some issues with blood tests, lung functions and getting sick so my surgeon wanted to reschedule.  Now I'm having surgery on July 2nd.  It actually works out pretty well because Joe can stay with me longer and I'll be able to see Susan's recital and the Rush concert. :)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else comes up but if it does we'll handle it.  That's what we do.  I'll have my DS.  It's just that I'm on the scenic route instead of the express lane. :)

Well, it's only 27 days till surgery now.  And actually it's only three weeks before I leave for Scranton.  I'm going up on the Wednesday before my surgery so that I can go to the support group meeting and meet with the nutritionist and Dr. Peters on thursday.  Then on Friday Dr. Peters will insert the Greenfield filter.  I think it's a good idea to have it done.  Even though I'm very active I still am at a higher weight than I've ever been and I have had a DVT before so we don't want to take chances.  It's a pretty simple procedure anyway so it will be ok.

There are still a lot of arrangements to make and a lot of things to do before I go but I think it will be OK.  My tasks this week are to find transportation to and from Scranton.  I'm having a difficult time finding anyone that can drive me up and back.  I'll find someone though. :)

Well, more updates later. :)