- Username: Mom2ItalianGirls
- Location: Alabaster, AL, USA
- Member Since: 6/16/2007
- Post Op
- Surgeon: Les Miles, M.D.
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Latest Surgery Support Comments
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Happy 1-year
anniversary Nanci!
Congrats on your
successes so far!
 Comment by Kay L. on 8/27/07 5:38 pm
Click here for the surgery support page
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It's about time... on September 7, 2007 1:08 am
You would think that after almost two weeks, I would give an update.
Day of surgery: Check in to admitting and the first face I saw was Father Wrigley. He is the on staff pastoral priest for St. Vincent's East. The second face I saw was Veronica Patterson. She is the bariatric coordinator for Dr. Miles. Walking in to the hospital room was smooth sailing since I started off see the two most caring people I could imagine seeing first.
After changing into my lovely Chanel designed, Prada inspiried hospital gown, I sat back, relaxed and waited for the party to begin.
Father Wrigley came in and gave me the Sacramental Anointing of the Sick. Since I was pre-op, I could not be administered Holy Communion but just having Father there praying with me -eliminated the need for any anxiety pills.
Veronica came in and asked in last minute questions and concerns. She is awesome!
My nurse was a real angel. She walked me through getting ready and updated my info etc.
Once ready, they wheeled me back to pre-op where the staff was extremely friendly and organized. The IV was started with MINIMAL pain. After several people involved with surgery came in and introduced themselves, I was given a shot of Versad in the IV. Then....
I woke up in recovery . My stomach was decorated with about 18 staples in five various holes and my arm and feet were being pressured by air inflating devices assuring my blood pressure was fine and my legs were not in danger of developing clots.
For the next several hours, I dozed in and out of sleep as my body quickly adjusted to post-op status. At five, I was almost ready to go home but with traffic so bad-I asked to stay another hour to allow my 1 hour drive home to be as smooth as possible.
AT HOME
I came home and slept. The next day the pain really hit.
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The Day Before... on August 26, 2007 10:51 am
This is the day before my surgery. I am excited. I cannot eat anything today. In two hours, I have to drink a bottle of intestinal death a.k.a. colon blow to prepare my gut and butt for surgery. 
So to keep you up to date...
Friday was the day that I got final approval. I had lost the pre-surgical weight required to have the surgery. I had all reports in and cleared. I paid them. Then I was off to the nearly two hours of pre-admit stuff. Actually, it is usually not two hours, I just got lost not once, but twice, trying to find everything. Got to lab, sent to admit. Got to admit, sent to testing. Got to testing and then had a little wait. Not too bad, but I had Sydney and Sophie in tow. Sydney is so obsessed with medical stuff. She was excited about getting to see Mommy get blood drawn.
So, I did get my blood drawn, EKG, H&P, and all that pre-surgical stuff. 
Afterward, we were starving so we went to Jim and Nicks BBQ. I got a baked tater and grilled chicken. The girls and I split the tater and I enjoyed the chicken.
Later that night, Chris took Syd to the Barons baseball game, and I took Sophie to PetSmart to pick out her birthday present. She is now the proud owner of a hermit crab named "Kitty Cat". 
Saturday was Sophie's 3rd birthday. We entertained 15 toddlers and such at PumpItUp. I was having a blast but after 20 minutes of jumping around, sliding, climbing, and such, I was EXHAUSTED. I thought I would need oxygen. 
Another reason, I am looking so forward to this surgery. It would be nice to run around and keep up with my kids.
After cake, goldfish, and koolaid-the kids were wired, we were tired, and everyone went on their merry way. Sophie got a LOT for her. Her favorites include Hungry Hungry Hippo game, the Lady Bug game, and her own Cracker Barrell rocker from her MawMaw. Of course, this list changes everytime she digs in her pile of toys.
And so here I am...making final preps for the first day of my new life...
Keep ya posted.
Feeding my anxiety... on August 23, 2007 3:12 pm
I was so consumed with anxiety and to top it off, I sat it in a highchair, put a bib on it and spoon fed it with more stress. It seems that the WLS doc did not have the Psych eval from three weeks ago, the Sleep study, and release from PCP. Ugggg..... getting nervous but after many phone calls, etc, it is settled! I have an appt. tomorrow to get preop lab and visit down. Ohhh... and the biggie- give them money!!
I grow more and more excited but the emotion is paired with wanting the house clean, getting the girls prepared, and of course, making sure my body is ready for this surgery-both physically, emotionally, and spiritually!
One more day off the calendar.
One step closer to becoming healthier.
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Dear John Letter on August 20, 2007 5:39 pm
Well, I am one week and counting. For the last two months, I have found myself saying "goodbye" to all my favorites. Kinda like a final hug to the following...
To the following:
Krispy Kreme HOT donuts and chocolate cremed filled
Outback Cheesy Fries
McDonalds everything
Coke, Dr. Pepper, and their diet friends
Mozzarella sticks-FRIED
Southern FRIED Okra-really fried
Leftovers of any given birthday cake
Thick Pan Pizza at Pizza Hut with lots of cheese and meats
Shoney's Hot Fudge Sundaes with extra fudge
Smuckers Peanut Butter and Grape Sandwiches
Eclairs, creme puffs, cupcakes, and other Bakery items
Captain D's FRIED fish, extra greasy with a side of greasy fries
Anything sold at the Alabama State Fair
Bisquits covered and smothered with bacon, eggs and cheeses
Entire slab of BBQ ribs smothered in sauce (Dreamland in Tuscaloosa, Ala-the best)
Basket of chips at any Mexican food joint-ever.
Many "pre-dinner" yeast rolls esp. at O'Charleys
Most things at Savage's Bakery in Homewood, Al.
Fried chicken salad smothered with honey mustard dressing
Entire packages of sweet, crisp Kettle corn
and
MawMaw's Beef Boat at the Riverwalk in New Orleans-a HUGE gutted loaf of bread filled with two, yet two pounds of ground beef , seasoned with New Orleans cajun spices, covered with shredded cheeses, sour creme, something we never quite figured out. Served with two side items of red beans and rice, and jambalaya. Oh, you know who you are!!!
You know I have always loved you. You were there for me in tough times and you celebrated with me in times of happiness. Yes, I know you were there for me even at the times in my life where it was just you and me babe! You helped get me through college and late night work hours and you always were my favorite travel partner. We were devoted to each other during my pregnancies, you and me. But I need to tell you...
I am sorry to say I have another in my life. I have found the love of my life and will no longer be able to see you as I have in the past. His initials are WLS. You may have heard of him. He has been calling me for over a year and at first, I was turned off by his persistant nagging, grovelings and constant "look at me" attitude. But after a while, his charm and sensiblity began to wear on me like a gorgeous Chanel dress, size 6, with elegant Jimmy Choo heels. Yes, I fell in love and how. We are to be together in a committed relationship with a beautiful , expensive commitment ceremony on Monday, Aug. 27. I am only inviting a few close personal friends and immediate family members.
So, good bye to you. I will miss you sometimes. I know you will find millions of people out there that desire you as much as I did. You will never be alone, but I am afraid this is the end of our journey together.
And, if we see each other in the future, look away, just look away. I am happier now with my new relationship and I know this is the best thing for my life.
Sincerely,
Nanci
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Archive
My Story
Today I started the journey to a new me. Well, let me re-phrase that... today I started the journey to the old me trapped in this prison of fat. If I could meet someone, anyone, I would want to meet me 20 years ago because I would tell that young girl...take care of yourself. Oh well, can't turn back time but you can look forward.
Today, I looked forward.
I went to the seminar for the LapBand. I went to the support group for the LapBand. I have been cruising the forum about the LapBand.
I have an appointment on August 1, 2007. It cannot get here sooner.
My story is probably like many of yours. I was never "small" or "normal" in size but at times in my life, I was healthier than others and very active. My childhood was filled with the usual ups and downs and food was always at the center. My parents were divorced and for the majority of the time, it was a civil, mature separation without custody battles or support issues. My father remarried when I was two to a wonderful, loving woman. My mother was spontaneous by nature and worked a great deal of time. My three older siblings were my primary caregivers. Our eating habits were not well established and healthy. It was mostly a free for all when we were hungry with meals being fast, not balanced, and rarely optimally nutritional.
My family has always been plagued with diabetes. My father's side of the family was a very large group of people. When I mean large, I don't mean population, I mean body weight. My dad and uncle both played college and professional football. They could hold the line when it came to blocking and eating! My two aunts were not that different. Other than being anatomically different and wearing dresses, they could stand up to eating (and toughness) like their brotherly counterparts.
Food was celebrated in our family. Football games, special events, holidays, and just plain boredom made for a meal based on comfort foods and large quantities. Whether we laughed or cried, we ate!!! We were FAT and it was no big (or small) deal. We were what we were and could trace the body size back several generations.
Diabetes runs throughout the family system. For me, I had a double whammie! On my fathers side, the introduction to adulthood was usually coupled with type 2 diabetes. On my mothers side, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes were prevelant. So, it was no surprise to find myself diabetic in my 30th year of life.
My weight has been steady-steadily growing since I was a teen. In my childhood, I was not overly large or chubby but I was thick. My grandmother put me in dancing at age 2 and kept me in dancing until my teens. I was actually quite good and even danced with a professional company for a couple of years. I was encouraged to audition for the Fine Arts school and was granted access to perform in a couple of professional shows. My body was in shape but my dreams were crushed when the ballet guru at the time told me that it didn't matter how hard I tried or practiced, that I would never be a ballerina or make it far because of my body size. For a couple of years after that I was discouraged but managed to make the most of my talent by either dancing with smaller groups, teaching, or taking up baton. In high school, I was the head majorette for the school.
As school ended and college class begin, I gained the "freshman fifteen" plus more weight. Becoming discouraged, not only because of my weight, but because I really hated school at the time, I quit classes and started working an office job. From that moment on...the weight became my friend. Every office gathering, every business lunch, and every happy hour, I made it a point to enjoy myself with little remorse. And I grew and grew and grew!
My body image at times has had ups and downs. I am the "fat" one of the family. Several years ago, I decided to become the "phat" one of the family and try to make my appearance seems normal by confidently accepting my load in life and just being happy with the way I am. I went back to college at 25 and finished my Bachelors in Business while working full time at night. After college, I met my soulmate and we married a few shorts months later. Two years later, we greeted our first born into the world and three years after that, we welcomed our youngest daughter. Each event was glorious but also invited lbs and lbs and lbs along the way. Now I am at my all time highest weight. I am a confident person and acknowledge my weight much like my hair color and eye color-in other words, it's just part of me, who I am, and how I am. BUT... and this is the kicker....
my body is failing and falling each moment.
The plus size clothes and inability to ride amusement rides with my daughters bothers me but the health reasons far outWEIGH the obesity health issues.
My diabetes is difficult to manage. Each month, I find myself drawing upon more insulin for my shots to control my blood sugar. Each increase in insulin only makes me hungry and crave sweets. (If I hear one more doctor tell me it's in my mind-I'm gonna kick them in the shin! Maybe it is in my mind or stomach or where ever but it is still there). The shots don't bother me as much as they are a nusiance to take and schedule my busy lifestyle around them. Anyone who has diabetes knows from the gazillion ads, and propaganda, and experts that diabetes leads to heart disease, kidney disease, and other types of chronic pains and illnesses. So far, between the diabetes and the child births, my kidneys are less than happy with the rest of my body.
So here I am... looking at the options.
The turning point to me was in February.
My Aunt Patsy
My beloved Aunt Patsy. The rock of our family. The connection between me and my deceased father's memory. She was a caregiver, a confidant, a nemesis, a comic, a sounding board, a unlicensed counselor, a preacher, a teacher, a role model, a frustration occassional but always a friend and always my hero!
She was my mirror image. I could have easily become her daughter through looks alone. She was funny. She was hard headed. She was obese. I cannot even think of the HOURS and HOURS we spent talking about our weight and diabetes. From my earliest memories, she was at war with her body. At one time or another, I took up the fight with her but managed to back down while she continued to spend endless days and nights fighting her weight problems physically and mentally. She lost her battle in the Fall of last year when she was admitted to the hospital with a gangreous foot that she could not see (because of her weight) and she could not feel (because of diabetic neuropothy). For four months she became a fixture in between the hospital and the short term nursing home. Our final conversation, unbeknowest to us, we talked about winning the weight fight. She confessed her concern over me and taking care of myself. She and I talked about how we were made of the same ingredients and mold. Before we hung up the phone, I told her that I loved her and if she was not on earth to hear me, to please keep listening because I would still be talking to her. She promised and with that she said she was going to sleep. Three hours later, the phone rang. She had died.
She was and is my hero.
I could not go to the family gathering at her house or before the funeral. I was too embarassed for my family esp. my cousins to see how I had let myself go! I didn't want to become the whisper that I was headed down the same path. My biggest fear during that time was that my family would see me for the last time and know the path I was walking. Going to her funeral was all I could emotionally do to publicly give her honor. My family thinks that I was just being a bitch or selfish but the truth is, I could not face them knowing that they were thinking that I was walking her footsteps toward the grave. I didn't want to look at her and see me in the coffin, needing eight strong pallbearers to carry my body. I didn't want to see the large body crushed inside a coffin large enough for two people yet crowded with just one. I didn't want to see what I conceived to be my future. I didn't want my husband to see it either. We both know my feelings but actually seeing the evidence can only finalize the case.
Each day since her death, I have thought about her. I miss her so much. The words cannot describe the pain I feel for her and the struggle I feel she went through during her life. With her memory in my heart, I find strength with her love.
The war is not over. A new battle has begun.
I am going to fight this war. I am going to win this cycle of ups and downs and end this family generational curse of dying too young with weight complicated issues. I do this for my grandparents, father, two aunts, and uncle who all went to an early grave with complications from obesity and diabetes wearing an enlarged coffins. I am doing this for my mom(s) so that they know the little girl they raised is healthy, happy, and going to live a life that will bring them honor and pride. I am doing this for my little girls and husband, that they will never know the pain and embarrassment of thinking that I could have prevented an early death. I am doing this for me, because I am worth it.
June 16th- Weight loss seminar and Support Group Requirement
August 1- First appointment.
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