ObesityHelp

So it has been awhile since my last update.  I will start off by saying that I am 80 lbs down, 9 1/2 weeks out of surgery (23lbs pre-op).  I am tickled by my progress, although, finding clothes now that are not baggy on me is a little difficult.  I have had no complications from my surgery and I am not taking any meds outside of my supplements.  No more blood pressure or diabetes medication for me!  So far I have not “dumped” but I think I did have a reaction to too many carbs (I felt dizzy and very tired for about 30 minutes) I have not vomited or gotten food stuck.  I am rarely hungry and I have some difficulty remembering to drink water.  Before surgery, I was wearing a size 26/28 and now I am probably closer to a 22.  My rings are beginning to fall off and I am noticing my hair falling out as well.  I cut my hair short to just above my shoulders when it used to hang halfway down my back.  I feel like a new woman.  I am so glad that I had this surgery and I am thankful for a skilled surgeon (Dr. Fernandez) and for my insurance company for approval of the surgery.  I will post pics as soon as I can.  Thanks for reading.

Tracy 12/17/08

Okay...it has been a long time since I last posted.  I recuperated at home for 3 weeks after my Gall Bladder surgery and the hospital stay where I had Pancreatitis.  I went back to work for about a week and a half and then on Tuesday, October 7th I had RNY at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.  The surgery went great.  I arrived two hours early, as requested, and it turned out that the surgeon that had scheduled the operating room prior to my surgeon was running significantly behind schedule. So, I arrived at 11:00, surgery scheduled at 1:00 and I was actually taken back into the OR at about 3:00.  My surgery actually started about 45 minutes later and I was wheeled into recovery at 6:00.  I remained there for about 2 hours.  I remember feeling very nauseus and they gave me a shot of something that helped.  I was in and out of consciousness.  At 8:00 I was taken to the Sticht Center where my room was located.  I was impressed.  The Sticht Center is for Bariatric patients and sports injuries.  It was like a hotel.  Very quiet and the nursing staff was great. 

I was in and out for a while and my husband was there keeping the boredom at bay on his laptop.  Thanks to the hospital for having WiFi.

I got up out of bed that night to go to the bathroom and I felt like I had been hit by a truck.  It was exactly as I had expected it since I had had abdominal surgery in the past and two c-sections.  I was not surprised.  I was allowed to suck on ice chips after a few hours and they were the most delicious ice chips I had ever eaten!  The next day I was again allowed ice chips and a small sip of water.  I was surprised at the lack of hunger.  I had not eaten in several days and I did not even care. 

I was on pain meds for the first full  day and in the evening of my second day.  I was feeling pretty good.  After I saw my surgeon he said I should plan to go home the next day (Friday). 

After I arrived home I tried to nap as much as possible.  I have two small children who had missed me so I didn't get as much sleep as I would have liked, but it was enough.  After walking around hunched over for a few days I began to feel more and more normal.  The abdominal pain was subsiding and the wounds were healing nicely.  I remained on liquids until the following Monday when I tried a scrambled egg.  It was good but I could only eat a few bites.  I would burp and know that that was enough.  I drank 2 protein shakes a day and as much water as I could.  I still  struggle to get in all my liquid each day, but I am trying.  I am now at 3 weeks out and feel brand new.  I have lost a total off 52 pounds since my pre-op diet (23 before surgery) and am wearing clothing that I have not worn in years.  I did experience a stall between week one and three where I did not loose one pound.  I hope that that stall is over, it really bums you out when you are eating nothing and still not seeing the scale move.  I know it is expected, but a bummer just the same.  I see the surgeon on November 6th and the Nutritionist on the 10th. 

November 2, 2008