Diana's Journey :)

Sep 30, 2011

 I am 43 years old and began struggling with my weight after graduation from community college. I had been very involved in dance and athletic training during my school years and once in college all of the working out and such came to a drastic halt. I had graduated high school at a weight of approximately 135 lbs and after graduating from community college was weighing in at approximately 190 lbs. I got married, got divorced, turned to food as a comfort / reward and have steadily put on weight ever since. My all time high was 289. I had the lap band surgery in 2008 and reached 204 as my lowest weight. I later began to have difficulties with eating certain foods which eventually progressed to the inability to eat solid foods. I checked in with my new baratric surgeon (as I had relocated from the bariatric surgeon who had originally placed the lap-band). Following a couple of rounds of trying to ease the restriction with removal of band fluid (2-3 ccs at a time), it was decided that the lap-band needed to be removed. Surgery was scheduled and within two weeks time the lap-band was OUT. I felt immediate relief and though the pain of surgery was present... I felt so much better that the pain didn't really faze me. My surgeon and I have spoken about the possibilities for revision WLS - VSG vs RNY. He was leaning a bit towards the VSG but upon doing my research, including speaking to several people who had undergone the RNY and one that had undergone the VSG... I decided on the RNY as my best option. It scares me to death but I really want to be able to enjoy doing activities and curb any propensity towards cardiac problems in my near future (Family has a very significant history for such). Right now it's a struggle to feel like doing much at all. My ankles and knees hurt, I get short of breath with exertion and I'm exhausted much of the time. I hope this surgery will give me a new lease on life.

September 30, 2011 - In 13 days I'm having my surgery and it still doesn't seem real. I'm excited and scared. My boyfriend and my Mom will be with me during my surgery with my Mom acting as caregiver post-op at home for a bit of time (I know she wants to be with me and of course it's always better for the daughter when the Momma is around). Both have been very supportive of my decision and my growing anxious as the time draws closer. My current weight (and final pre-op weigh-in at the bariatric center) is 253.8 lbs.

October 3, 2011 - Well it's 9 days and a wake up. I'm on the pre op diet and plan to weigh in this Friday to see how much weight I have lost (shocking that liver prior to surgery!). 

October 7, 2011- I weighed in (on my scale) at 245. I think my scale may be a couple pounds light so I'm gonna say the weight is 247 but that's pretty good - down fom 253.8! A few more days (4) and I'm on a clear liquid diet breakfast then nothing after midnight and it's time for surgery! I think I'm going to be super careful over the coming days because I know the less carbs you eat the better your liver will be for the surgeon. I've been really careful this past week and I'm making sure I get enough protein. I'm so excited and nervous. I want this to be over with and I wake up and start on the losing side. 

October 12, 2011 - Woke up this morning at 630am with an absolute swarm of butterflies in my stomach! I am having an attack of serious nerves today....Lord knows what tomorrow morning will be like! I still believe this is the right decision for me...just that the undertaking of what I consider a major surgery is frightening (and I say what I consider major because so many people these days consider RNY to be "no big deal"...but I still do - heh probably cause it's me that'll be done on *grins). Oh well, as they say slow, deep breaths and one foot in front of the other.... see ya'll on the other side of this :)

October 17, 2011 - YAY I made it through and I don't feel generally like crap today. An improvement for sure! I was really out of it the night of surgery (I remember nothing...my boyfriend and Mom tell me we talked LOL). Had some issues the following day - my heartrate was racing in the 140s and they couldn't determine why. No walking for me on that post-op day...instead a battery of tests to determine what was going on with me. Swallow study (no leaks - YAY again), EKG, Xray, ABGs (OUCH) and LOTS of different physicians stopping by to check-in on me. On POD 2, I had begun to improve. heartrate hanging in the high 90s while at rest but was able to get up and do some walking. I was discharged home but still pretty out of it and sleepy the rest of the day and nights. POD 3 and the gas pains hit....ow ow ow ow! All I can say there is WALK, lots of WALKING! It does help - believe me. Finally, the gas started moving and I felt sooooo much better by late night. Took some meds and actually slept most the night through! So here I am today, POD 4, and doing some walking...typing on the computer...sipping that water and drinking those protein drinks! Onward I go!

November 4, 2011 - Ok I haven't been posting a lot other than my nutrition tracker... oopsy. Well, an update... how am I feeling? Mostly tired 99% of the time. I haven't really had any hunger other than the occasional bout of "head hunger" when I see something that used to be a favorite food but honestly the feeling of fullness I have rather constantly puts the head hunger down almost as soon as it rears up :)

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