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Surgeon TestimonialRichard Carter, M.D.Attended Dr. Carter's seminar last night - 10/25/06. I had already researched his surgical competence so it was a plus to find him entertaining and friendly. Becky was with him and she knows the answer to everything regarding insurance. I loved talking to her because she is so real and has a great sense of humor about her own band.rnrnDr. Carter is strict about aftercare. The emphasis on committing to a lifestyle change is probably his number one priority, although he was very thorough explaining the surgery and risks.rnrnAfter meeting Dr. Carter, I have no doubts about having this surgery. My insurance will change to UHC on January 1st so I'm patiently waiting until then. rnrn |
I am a wife, mother, wicked step-mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. I live and work in the Dallas/Fort Worth "MetroMess". Oh... and I am a LONGHORN!!!
I had forgotten how clothes felt that didn't restrict on March 30, 2007 3:43 am
Everything in my closet was too tight. The minute I got home from work, I stripped down to my panties and put on my pajamas. I never wanted to go anywhere because it was just too uncomfortable to get dressed.
Yesterday as I was getting ready to go to the doctor, I literally "slipped" into my jeans. They buttoned with ease and I didn't have the thought of I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF THESE. I spent several hours away from home, doing some shopping after my appointment. I had dinner with Chelsea and some other friends showed up. Everyone was complimenting me on my weight loss. When I got home I didn't change into my pajamas for a couple of hours. I kept thinking, "so this is how comfortable jeans feel" | Leave a comment.
Day 12 post-op on February 10, 2007 3:27 am
You'd think after being off work twelve days I could sleep past 0330. Oh no, the perfectionist in me still wants to get up, making sure everything is in perfect order. Is it ever?
Surgery was on the 30th of January. Everything ran right on time. Surgery scheduled for 1145. Dr. Carter came in around 1115 and said Dr. Foseter was right behind him. Ohhhh, I love Dr Foseter, his goofy juice and Milk of AMNESIA. I know I was in the surgical area by 1145, but I really don't remember getting there.
I woke up in recovery before 1300 feeling like someone was standing on my stomach and my chest. My head was killing me. I thought "holy geez, I should not be feeling this much pain just out of surgery" I had to do something before the nurse would give meds to me, but I really don't remember what it was. Ohhhh yes... that little injection was working. It took a little while for the headache to go away, but it did prior to leaving recovery. I kept feeling like I needed to sneeze. Nurse said it was because my nostrils were dry. I never did sneeze and that went away, too. I did the barium swallow which was absolutely no big deal. As soon as I got back to my room, the nurse said all I had to do was #1 and I could leave. I told her I could go to the bathroom right then. She went to get my paperwork and we were out of there by 1455 - 5 hrs total!!!
Okayyyyy..... Surgery and David driving from Arlington was about all the fun I could stand for one day. It was nice to be home. I slept upstairs in the recliner - ice pack on port, heating pad on tummy. Pain meds every 6 hrs. David slept on the couch beside me. We've switched positions.
I didn't make it to family night. (every Wednesday I have dinner with my 2 brother and my parents) , but I was able to see my parents on Thursday. We watched General Hospital with mom while dad took his nap.
Friday and Saturday - David and I did a little walking at Home Depot and Petsmart. I get tired quickly so about 45 mins is all I can do.
I called Dr Carter's office on day 7 to see if I could go back to work. No dice!! Since I have the two weeks off, they want me to take it. No sense having a set-back if I can be at home. I told Becky I was going to a casino and she said that would be a good judge of being at work. Gwen and I went to Winstar. We had so much fun, David and I went back the next day. Good thing - I won $2600. I certainly paid for it on Wednesday and Thursday. I was in Nordstrom's for an hour on Wednesday and was ready to go. I had to force myself to pick up mom's birthday gift. Haircut and color on Thursday. Shelby did this great brown color with some highlights. I like it! I'm sure I will make it blonde again in 5 weeks.
The first few days after surgery I felt full all the time. Then the hunger kicked in. I feel like I could eat anything, but after eating a little bit I do feel satisfied. The protein shake is pretty good, especially with a teaspoon of peanut butter.
This is also day 12 of not smoking. I've had a few cravings, but they really are minimal. I DO NOT WANT TO BE A MORBIDLY OBESE SMOKER ANYMORE!!
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My first protein drink on January 26, 2007 6:07 am
Dayam! That's a tasty beverage. I think I'm going to like this $40 bottle of protein. At $1.33 per serving, I'll be saving money over my usual breakfast.
I'm getting more excited every day. I am going to finish cleaning the house today. I like everything spotless anyway. I want to really relax after surgery and not worry about a spot on the mirror. Also, I need to pick up my prescriptions for after my procedure.
Sometime between today and tomorrow, I need to get my nails/pedicure done, fix Chelsea's computer and cancel my hair appointment. Dang it - it was scheduled for the same day I am having my surgery. Oh well, I can get by with another couple of weeks. I'm sure I can't get in with Shelby in the next two days.
Better get moving!
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Consult and Pre-Op on January 25, 2007 3:53 pm
What a day! My appointment with Dr. Carter was at 11. I never even sat down and Becky took me back to Room #2. She weighed me (I took my shoes off, of course) and gave a packet of information to me. I weighed 264. Dr. Carter peeked in a couple of times while the video was playing. When he came back in to talk to me, I asked, "Have you ever found anyone passed out on the floor" I mean, the video was pretty graphic, although it didn't bother me. He told me that's why he kept checking on me. I really like him. He explained what would happen during surgery, the diet for the next several weeks, patted me a couple of times, looked directly into my eyes with his beautiful blue ones. I felt safe. I paid my co-pay of $35, $936 for my portion of his surgical fee, and $40 for protein powder. I was out of there by 11:45.
My appointment for pre-op was not until 12:15, but I went ahead to the information desk. One nice lady took me right over to her desk, had me sign papers and pay the $150 co-pay for the hospital. I took a seat.
It was just a few minutes a nurse came to take me back for weight, (265 with shoes on) blood pressure, and a few more questions. I go to the next room for EGK and blood draw. Only one stick, but man my blood was trickling. The nurse was holding her breath. She was really funny. She took me to the waiting room to wait for X-ray to come get me for a picture of my chest. I barely got seated when Jessica came back. Three pics and I'm done. I was out of there before 1:00.
I walked out of USMD thinking this was almost like an assembly line, but in a very good way. Everything clicked right along with no waiting. I liked that.
My surgery is not until 1145 and I have to be at the hospital at 1015 with nothing to eat of drink after midnight. Oh brother!! That's going to be a challenge. I CAN DO IT!! I'll just sleep until 9!! Riiight! I'm the 0300 hr queen. Who am I fooling? I better take some Ambien CR at midnight.... wait... 2359 hours.
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I never thought I could be this overweight although I remember clearly the day my poor self-image began. I was in the 5th grade when the nurse came to each classroom for the dreaded weight and height measurement. One by one, each child took their turn on the scale. I weighed in at a whopping 93 lbs and nothing happened, but when the nurse called out that I was 65 inches tall, everyone gasped. "Oh my! She's a giant!" I kept waiting for one person to be a sixteenth of an inch taller, but NOOOOOOOOOO!!! At 10 years old, a light wind could have blown me away, but in my mind, I was the LARGEST person in the class. I started college in Sept 72 at 5'9" and 125. I had been drinking Sego for lunch when I was in high school, but once I got away from my mother and father, I discovered a doctor who gave me diet pills. Later on I would attempt many different plans - Scarsdale, Mayo Clinic, Lean Bodies, Cabbage Soup, Body for Life, White Zin diet (drink one bottle and forget about dinner), Atkins... the list goes on ad infinitum. In November 1997, I was involved in an automobile accident. My neck injury required steroids orally and by injections. The weight gain began rapidly. I want to blame all of this on the medication. I was hungry all the time. However, my eating habits changed so dramatically and I lost complete control. I went from someone who didn't snack or have second helpings to a person with something to eat at all times because I MIGHT GET HUNGRY. Two years ago I started researching the Lap-Band. I have finally made the decision to have it after January 1st. I would do it today, but I have to change my insurance to my employer's plan,United Healthcare I am currently under my husband's BCBS Federal and they will only pay for bypass surgery. I am not at a place where I am willing to take the risks associated with that. I totally support anyone who does.
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