It's been awhile since I updated.  
I have been getting emails for updates, so I thought I would add some new pics.  I have lost 81lbs since June.  I can't explain how wonderful life is now.  I feel like I am really living now and not just existing.  I get compliments everyday, even from people who see me everyday.  That really feels good.  This is one of the best decisions of my life.  I always welcome questions, as I hope to help others like people helped me when I needed it.

I thought I would add a pic of how I'm doing so far. 

I thought I would give a little update.  I am only now recovering from letting myself get dehydrated 5 days ago.  WOW!  It was a little scary.  I'm much better now and drinking fluids every second!  
I have lost 45 lbs so far.  I'm lovin it, but it has not been easy.  I really don't eat much.  I can only have mushies right now and the only things I like are mashed potatoes, tuna and soup.  I miss food SO bad that I amost let it depress me.
Also, when I eat, it doesn't feel real good going down.  I take small bites, but sometimes I can feel it go all the way down.
I guess these things will work themselves out.

Keep in mind that I'm a huge baby and was worried about things that others usually don't worry about.  
This is my experience...
The pre-op nurse was absolutely fantastic.  So I thought, this is starting out good, she makes me feel comfortable.  After driving up to the hospital, I wasn’t too impressed and was a little worried.  Then she took me for my blood work, the guy-tortured me!  He needed a lot of blood and had the needle in my hand moving it around and talking, not caring.  Boy was I relieved when I asked him if he would be doing my IV and he no…lol.

I have to say, back on the hospital thing.  If you aren’t comfortable with your surroundings, how can u feel comfortable about what’s going to happen to you?  I really have some big issues with that hospital.

So at 5:15 AM they get me for pre-op.  By then, I’m pretty much a nervous wreck.  I was glad to hear that they put my IV and catheter in while in the OR.  My biggest problem was envisioning what they would be doing.  I’m really bad about that.  The surgery itself wasn’t bad.  It was the numerous needle sticks, pain shots, catheter, drain and getting them pulled out.  I was so worried about them pulling out my catheter and drain I was making myself sick.  And it really wasn’t bad at all.  I have a big problem with foreign things in my body.  Just the thought of that drain inside my body and poking out, was more than I could handle.

The blood work everyday and the IV was a problem because I’m very hard to stick.  I have horrible bruises where they missed after fishing around.  Or not enough blood would come out so they had to try somewhere else.  One time they even had to take blood from the vein going up my thumb.  My husband couldn’t believe that one.

The other thing that made it all so bad was the fact that I had a few horrible nurses.  It’s like they didn’t want to be there.  They were cold and unconcerned about I had been through.  I did have an excellent one that was so sweet and gentle with me.  So made me feel better.  But I never had the same nurse.  You would think that once a nurse takes care of you, on her next shift she should be your nurse again.  I guess that’s too logical for them.  So someone new and uncaring would come in and it would start all over.

One nurse even tried to give me the wrong medicine!  Luckily, the state of mind I was in because I didn’t like it there, I didn’t trust anyone and we caught it.

Oh and the best part.. not really.. is that the whole day of surgery, they wouldn’t let me get out of bed.  We all know that your supposed to get up as soon as possible, and I was ready, I didn’t have much pain.  Somehow my dr. had put bed rest on my paper work.  When I asked him about it, he said that the girl after me was on bed rest not me, he accidently checked it for me too.  I was like “is that going to affect my recovery?”  No.

So the next day they tried to put me on hydrocodone, which makes me very nauseated, and guess what… I was VERY NAUSEATED!  So they ended up putting me back on the shots.  And the shots knocked me out.  I didn’t care, I didn’t want to have to deal with those people anymore.  So since I left the hospital I’ve had about 2 tsp of hydro in fear of getting sick.

Not a pleasant experience, but I think it was due to the hospital and nurses.  It really makes a difference in recovery.

Ok, I finally have my seminar with Dr. Davidson in Dallas this Friday.  I can not wait!  I"m so ready to get on with this.