ObesityHelp.com: Making the Journey Together
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Fran575 has 6 Friends

Annie B.

MillieJ

lainy_h

Shelley S.

Joyce S.
Goals

Be able to do the home improvements that I want to do

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Is to be Healthy again so I can enjoy life with my family and friends.

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164 People
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 achieved this

Work in the yard again.

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Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by nancy6 on 5/1/08 9:48 pm
    Hi, Fran - wishing you all the best on your big day tomorrow! I know you'll probably not see this until you are back home, but know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Just remember to sip and walk, sip and walk!! Looking forward to seeing you back on the boards - and on the loser's bench! ~Nancy~
  • Comment by Eileen Briesch on 5/1/08 9:17 pm
    Today is your day! Good luck to you and welcome to the loser's bench. Sounds like you're ready for a new life. WLS gave me a new life, and after reading your profile, you sound a lot like me. Eileen
  • Comment by Jan S. on 5/1/08 6:01 pm
    Fran, you big day is amost here!!!! You'll do fine, just follow the Doctor's instructions to a "t". We're dusting off your spot on the loser's bench, got it all ready for you!
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Fran575's Blog



Thursday, May 8th, 2008
on May 8, 2008 9:50 pm
Well, my surgery was last Friday (May 2nd) and it went great! It started about 5 hours later than was expected because they were running a bit behind and I was forgetful and drank 4 ounces of water while waiting to be called to the back. They made me wait in the bed for about 3 1/2 hours before wheeling me away.  I woke up around 9:30pm in my room and with a lovely row of 26 staples down my chest.  But I was up and walking by midnite. So I spent Sat & Sun in the hospital and was sent home Monday morning around 10:00am. Annie and Shelley both came by to visit and walk the halls with me, and I really appreciated them coming by. It was really nice to see how great they are both doing.
Monday & Tuesday of this week was pretty much sleeping, walking, sipping, sleeping, walking, sipping....and on and on and on! Wednesday I started feeling well enough to sit at the computer and read the message boards but not well enough to sit and type anything. Today I swept the house, curled my hair, put on a little bit of makeup and entertained visitors. My boss and a co-worker came and visited me on their lunch hour. That was enjoyable, but I took a long nap when they left.
I am getting in my 3 "meals" and 3 snacks a day........at 2 oz each. I have had SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, SF Hot Cocoa, SF Popsicles, Cream of Mushroom soup (made with enriched nonfat milk and then strained to remove all the bits) and SF Pudding (with lot's of added unflavored protein powder). The only thing I have found that doesn't agree with my little pouchy is yogurt (Dannon's Carb Lite).
I get my staples and drain removed on Monday the 12th, and that will be wonderful! I never got to see my surgeon after the surgery, because apparently he was sent to another post for 12 days....right after my surgery. So I will be seeing Eggebroten to take my staples out.
Okay, that's long enough for sitting here typing..........just wanted to check in and say "I'm officially on the losers bench" and thanks for the flowers that Shelley brought up to the hospital.
Hugs...




Archive

My Story

My Story........
I turned 55 in November of 2007. I am 5'4" tall and weigh 242 pounds. I have been married for the past 10 years to wonderful man I met on the internet 13 years ago. I am the 3rd girl in a family of 5 girls, and the only one to have suffered from morbid obesity ALL my life. 
We were raised in Hawaii (on the island of Oahu), and that is where I discovered the wonderful "mu-mu". It covered a wealth of fat, or so I thought. My highest weight was the year I graduated from high school, when I weighed 295#. Two years later we left the islands and came to Washington State. Shortly after my mom & dad moved on to California with my 2 younger sisters, and I stayed here. I have now lived in Washington for the past 35 years, but the Hawaiian spirit still flows through my veins.
I have never really let my weight get the best of me, and have always done what I wanted to do. But over the past 10 years things have changed. I was diagnosed with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and a Herniated Disc in my lower back. After almost 2 years on a cane I finally had  Lower Lumbar Laminectomy surgery. That was done in 2003, and I no longer use a cane but I do suffer from numbness in my left leg if I walk for any length of time. 
Every day I feel older! I started looking into WLS about a year ago, but then got scared and put it out of my head. But in September of 2007 it popped right back into my head. Then when I found out that Tricare (military medical insurance) would cover the entire cost, I became more serious about having this surgery. Thankfully my husband is retired from the Navy and has this wonderful insurance at our disposal!
My PCP referred me to Madigan Army Hospital back on October 18th and I am on my way. I have taken the 5 required Pathway classes. Nutrition, Support Groups, Physical Therapy, etc. I now have 2 appointments left: One on January 14th for a long Psych test and then on February 4th for reviewing the results with the psych. If I pass those 2 appts, then I get my referral with the actual surgeon and my date. Potentially I could be having surgery by March of 2008. I put my surgeon down as Preson Carter, head of Bariatric Surgery at Madigan, but that could change. I am still researching the different surgeons, and haven't made a final decision on which one I am leaning towards.
My employer, and a few co-workers, are aware of what I am planning. They have given me tremendous support, as has my husband.
I will return with updates as they happen.

 


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