ObesityHelp

Boy this has been a challenging week. Overall, I feel fine. I have been able to get most of my protein in, I’ve been experimenting with different types of shakes, I’m sippin, … well I really gulping. Just one gulp at a time. Drinking water or juice is fine to me. I really don’t think Dr. Brader did the surgery b/c I can gulp water just fine. I prefer room temp water, (which I didn’t prefer pre-op) but overall, I’m doing okay…. Until evening, time….

 

During the evening after being on OH or talking to my friends, when I sit down and watch TV, I WANT SOLID FOOD!! I see the Pizza Hut commercials, my mother and friend eating dinner and I wish sooo bad that I could have some of that as well. I try to get on the internet, surf around but that damn food is on my mind!!!!

 

I know that this is a mind over matter issue, but I want some food!!! I have 2 more weeks of this liquid stuff and then I can have puree!!! I can’t wait to have a turkey or chicken burger… I am counting down my days…. For puree.

 

Many of my friends call me to see how I’m doing and they are very surprised that I am out of bed. I told then that I have to walk and I have been walking around the house etc. Today I went to the gym and figured that I should weigh myself. I order a scale from Avon and am currently waiting for it to come in. I haven’t weighed myself since the hospital. I know that when I left the hospital on Friday Feb 2, 2007, I weighed 295lbs. So when I stepped on the scale @ Bally’s… I was 285!!! OMG I lost a pound a day!!! I’m so excited. My mom and friend said that they could tell the difference, but I can’t… I shall find out soon...

My surgery date was on Jan 31^st… I received a call on Jan 30^th... notifying me of the time that I needed to go in for surgery. Dr. Brader’s office stated that I needed to be there at 8:30am for surgery. I am so excited!!!! I called my mom, my best friend, and my male friend to let them know of the news…

 

I was very nervous days leading up to surgery. I was terrified to sing that Advance Directive b/c that document shows the seriousness of having the surgery. I know that I have the best doctor in the world, but it makes you think. I gathered all of my life insurance info and gave it to my mom, just in case and my mom and my friend witnessed me signing that document.

 

 Another reason that I was nervous because I worked up until the day before surgery
(Jan 30^th); and I was stressed to complete my assignments. Monday night I stated until 8pm to get most of my work dome. That Tuesday I realized that I was not going to be able to complete the assignments and I had to be okay with that.  Working as a social worker is stressful as is... that’s why I taking the full 6 weeks off for Tia time. I know that I can probably go back to work before then... but I don’t want to! As selfish as it sounds but “I really don’t care about other people’s problems right now, especially my clients because I know that I won’t be able to fix the problem just like that.”

 

Well I woke up early the day of surgery and got dressed. I made sure I had on some light comfortable clothing for the scale and packing. My mom, friend, and I drove up to Barix to begin m new journey. I received several text messages from friends and I’m glad of all of the support I received during this process. I was trying to stay very calm, but I knew that I was very nervous.

 

Then a nurse named Pat came out, asked me a couple of questions, and weighed me again... I took off my shoes and then stepped on the scale... I’m 292.7 lbs!!!! that’s approximately 3.5 lbs off since the PATs!!! Whoo-Hoo!! I thought that I didn’t lose any weight because  I wasn’t exercising like I was supposed to due to me being sick with tonsillitis. Then she asked me a couple of questions and then stated that I would be called back in a little while.

 

About 30-45 minutes later, she called me back. I took urine pregnancy test and she told me to strip and put on a gown. Then she began to give me an IV. She tried twice but was unable due to my thick and skin and my deep and rolling veins. Then the anesthesiologist came in and he was able to find a vein that cooperated. I was then taken into the cold Operating Room and was asked to transfer my big butt onto the cold, small operating table... and that was all I remembered…

 

Then I woke up and had that damn tube in my mouth and I was gagging and then I must have gone out and then I woke up in the recovery room. I don’t remember much because I was on morphine. My mom and friend came into my room, but I could barely keep my eyes open.  They stated that I had no complications from surgery!! YAY

Today was the day that I took my Pre Admission Testing so that they can approve me for surgery. I was very nervous that night prior. I spoke with my friend and expressed my concerns, and he reassured me that I have nothing to worry about.

I got to Barix 30mins before my appt and everyone was so nice. I was terrified to get on that scale. I've been trying to lose weight via diet and exercise and I was hoping to get under the 300lbs mark. At consultation I was 308lbs-Aug 2006, and I was hoping I can lose the 10lbs that the doctor wanted me to do. 
Well.... I WAS 296LBS!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!!! I lost 12lbs by myself!!
I felt great!.. After that I was very calm. 

They drew my blood, which I hate getting done, but they knew what they were doing :).. Then off the to X-Rays, and ultrasound. I've never been pregnant befor ebut I don't like ultrasounds... all that jelly on your belly and someone pressing into it... ijust not for me.  Then I had my ECG and did the breathing treatments.. Boy was that breathing  machine hard!! I tried my best and that's all that matters.

Then I met with the nutritionist and she gave me the Barix Bible... Thanks to Heather W. I already read it.. THANKS SO MUCH HEATHER!!!
Then I met with Dr. Jambo and he looked me over. He stated that my tonsils were large and had the anastelogists to check out my tonsils. He thought that I had an infection but my tonsils are naturally HUGE!!! He said that I was okay, and he gave me the stamp of approval!!!!

the nurses took a picture of me, got a copy of my blood work which was great, and was on my way!!!

I WAS HUNGRY!!! So. afterwards I went to Subway and got a sandwich.... life of a big gyrl is always surrounded by food... LOL

Today I got my letter from my insurance company. ( Keystone Healh Plan East HMO.) It said that I am approved for a date in Nov. I spoke  with my insurance company to verify if I was approved.  The insurance company informed me that I was approved for the Lap-BBand procedure. I called the Barix insurance department and informed them of my approval and I faxed them my letter. Next I  told the Barix people that I would like to the Lap RNY instead of the Lap-Band. She stated that it would take a couple of weeks to submit the paperwork but everything is fine.

I decided to change the type of surgery I would have because I realized that if I have Lap-Band I could still eat any kind of food I want and I need some behavior modification in me ( dumping). Also the RNY gives me a greater chance to lose most of my excess weight.  I was first worried about the excesss skin, but I rather be healthy. 

Now I just have to wait for the RNY procedure to be approved and to get a psych eval..... stay tuned..

I attended the Barix consultation with Dr. Brader. He began to talk about the surgery and discussed that difference between the lap RNY and the Lap-Band surgery. My first impression of Dr. Brader was that he was the best!!!! He seemed very nice and was very patient to answer any questions that you had about the surgery. 

When looking at the differences between the RNY and Lap-Band, I still wanted the Lap-Band. I was afraid  say goodbye to the food that I still love such as fried chicken and other fried foods. I'm not much of a sweets eater, but I'm a volume eater.

Then I was taken in the back and was weighed.. I am 308 lbs!! I couldn't believe it!!! I knew that  I definitely needed the surgery. Then I met with Dr. Brader and we discussed my questionnaire. He stated that b/c of my age I needed a psych eval and that's it. Then a nurse came in and I asked which surgery would be better, RNY or Lap-Band. The nurse stated that most people go for the RNY b/c they would lose the most weight and it controls some people on what they eat.  
When I asked Dr. Brader about the surgery, he said it's your choice. I chose Lap-Band for my 1st choice and Lap RNY for my 2nd choice. 
Dr. Brader stated that I need to lose about 10 lbs before surgery or he would have to perform the surgery open. The nutritionist came in and gave me some tips on how to lost the weight.  He said that someone would be in touch with me to handle my insurance approval and that he should see me soon. Got some info about some psychiatrist and psychologists to do the eval.  He suggested to call my insurance company to make sure that they would approve the surgery. Now I will talk to my therapist about writing the eval... Now I feel that my journey has just began!!