Charlene A
02/01/2008
Feb 01, 2008
Have not posted in a while. I've had a few complications along the way. Just before Christmas I passed a kidney stone and I have another one in there that could come out at any time. I also either got something stuck in my stoma or it closed up during the healing process. I was unable to eat or drink anything. Couldn't even take a sip of water and was vomitting constantly. It must have gone through or opened up again, because it resolved itself in a couple days. I just had an ultrasound last week because Dr. Hagen thought I may have gall stones, because of the pain I'd been having in my chest and back. Sure enough, I have small gallstones and also a collection of blood vessels in my liver. My PCP said it could be a hemangioma. She wants to send me for an MRI but I have to find out from Dr. Hagen what kind of staples he used on me. I guess you're unable to have an MRI with some kinds of staples. He is not in the office until Tues. so I will call him then. Eating has changed completely for me. I find that I have to force myself to eat sometimes. Other times when I actually crave something, I find that once I start eating it, it just doesn't taste as good as I remembered it. I still vomit a few times a week after eating. I guess I'm just figuring out what foods I can handle. I have been in the ER more times in the past couple of months than I've been in my entire life, I think. I've also been back to Humber a couple times because of these complications. I feel like I don't even really appreciate the weight I have lost, because I feel like I didn't do anything to earn it. I remember when I would diet and exercise in the past, when I lost weight I would be really excited about it. I just don't have that thrill anymore. People are constantly telling me that I've lost a lot of weight and that I look good, but it just kind of seems surreal to me. I guess on a positive note I have lost 76.5 lbs. from my highest weight ever, 55.5 lbs. since right before I started on Optifast and 39.5 lbs. since my surgery date of 11/30/07. I'm also looking forward to the first meeting of the Sarnia WLS Support Group tonight. It will be good to talk to others about their experiences and see where I fit in.
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11/28/07
Nov 28, 2007
I'm heading to Toronto tomorrow with my sisters Ruth and Virginia for my surgery on Friday. My other sisters Dawn and Heather will be coming on Friday. If all goes well I should be out on Sunday. I don't know when I'll be able to post again but one of my sisters may do it for me. If they do, it will be on the Ontario Main Forum. Thanks to everyone for all your support and well wishes. See you on the Loser's Bench!
(Hugs) Charlene
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(Hugs) Charlene
11/26/07
Nov 26, 2007
Well it's 4 days until my surgery date. I am feeling oddly calm at the moment. I have flip flopped on my decision for the past couple of weeks. At one point I had decided that I was going to give Weight Watchers and daily exercise a final try. When I had thought about it long and hard I realized who am I kidding? I know myself. I have no willpower. I've tried all that in the past and it never stuck then, what would be different now? I need a tool to help me stick to it. I'm just getting over a cold and now I have a sinus infection. I have to see my PCP today and hopefully I can get rid of it by Friday or I might not be able to have the surgery at all. My sisters are going to Toronto with me to support me and keep me calm. I know the first few weeks will probably be hard, I'm just hoping I can stick it out until then.
Yesterday I was severely depressed. My Dad died September 15th this year. I'm finding that when you don't have food to dull the pain it just slices right through you. I am really missing him. I went to the cemetery today and had a good cry. He was an amazing man. He was a Flying Officer in WWII and a POW. He was a Christian and he lived it more than anyone else I know. He was strong and wise and had a great sense of humour. He was my moral compass and I went to him with questions about everything and anything in the full confidence that he would have the right answer. He was integrity personified and I love him for that. He was the father of seven children, of whom I'm the youngest and we always knew we could count on him and his love for us. I have to admit that without him I'm feeling a little lost. I know, however, without a shadow of a doubt that he is in Heaven today where he will never feel any pain again and I will see him again some beautiful day.
Yesterday I was severely depressed. My Dad died September 15th this year. I'm finding that when you don't have food to dull the pain it just slices right through you. I am really missing him. I went to the cemetery today and had a good cry. He was an amazing man. He was a Flying Officer in WWII and a POW. He was a Christian and he lived it more than anyone else I know. He was strong and wise and had a great sense of humour. He was my moral compass and I went to him with questions about everything and anything in the full confidence that he would have the right answer. He was integrity personified and I love him for that. He was the father of seven children, of whom I'm the youngest and we always knew we could count on him and his love for us. I have to admit that without him I'm feeling a little lost. I know, however, without a shadow of a doubt that he is in Heaven today where he will never feel any pain again and I will see him again some beautiful day.
11/16/07
Nov 16, 2007
I've started the Optifast today. The chocolate is pretty good but I'm not thrilled with the vanilla. I've booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express right across the road from HRRH where my surgery will be. I booked it for the night before surgery and the two following nights because my sisters will be staying there and keeping me company during the day. I am blessed to have four sisters who are willing to look after me and make sure I make it to Toronto and back safely. I am feeling much calmer and at peace with everything. I have had wonderful responses on the forum and lots of encouragement and support from friends and family too. I think this will be a positive thing for me and my son and everyone else I love. I have to remember that God is over all and be at peace with that. My prayers are going out for burberry31 who is having surgery today at HRRH. God bless her and keep her safe.
11/12/07
Nov 14, 2007
I went to Toronto today to Dr. Hagen's office to pick up my Optifast and then to the hospital for my PATTs. Had blood taken, EKG, chest x-ray and spoke with a nurse and anesthetist. Got to the hospital about noon and got out of there about 4:30. I am really starting to seriously consider whether or not I want to go through with this surgery. When I started this process 2 1/2 years ago I had a completely different mindset than I do now. My Dad passed away on Sept 15 this year and I don't want to put my family in the position of having to worry about me in surgery and any complications that may arise. I have to admit that I'm more than a little nervous about the surgery and complications. I've never had surgery before. I'm wondering if this is normal pre-surgery jitters or if my instincts are telling me to bail out now. Anyway I plan to start the Optifast on Friday anyway and see how that goes. That will be exactly 2 weeks that I will be on Optifast before my surgery date.
11/06/07
Nov 08, 2007
I had an appointment with my PCP today. I told her that I had my surgery date. She weighed me and I was 232. When I started this journey in May '05 I weighed 256 and my BMI was 42.6. I am 5' 5" and now my BMI is 38.6. I'm worried that when I go to see my surgeon next week he will tell me that I've lost too much weight and that now I don't qualify for the surgery as I'm pretty sure you need a BMI of 40 or >. I'm wondering if I should try and put some weight on to bring my BMI up.
10/25/07
Oct 28, 2007
I just got a message from Dr. Hagen's office today for a surgery date! I called them back and they said my surgery date is November 30th. I had to ask if that was this year or next. It has been 2 1/2 years since I've started this process and I just kind of put it out of my mind because it seemed like it was never going to happen. Well the date is for this year! That's just over 1 month away. I am officially freaking out! I feel like I have so much to do before I go for surgery. I have to go down to Toronto on Nov. 12th and pick up my Optifast from Dr. Hagen's office. After that I will be having about 2 hours worth of testing done at the hospital.
As you can probably tell I haven't added anything to this blog since August '05, so I had to go back and try to fill in the blanks. As I said, I just kind of gave up on the whole thing ever happening.
I decided I would prefer the lap band over the roux-en-y. It seems less invasive and safer. However, OHIP doesn't cover it. It would cost $17,000 CDN to have it done, so I am sticking with the laparoscopic roux-en-y.
As you can probably tell I haven't added anything to this blog since August '05, so I had to go back and try to fill in the blanks. As I said, I just kind of gave up on the whole thing ever happening.
I decided I would prefer the lap band over the roux-en-y. It seems less invasive and safer. However, OHIP doesn't cover it. It would cost $17,000 CDN to have it done, so I am sticking with the laparoscopic roux-en-y.
04/24/07
Oct 28, 2007
Had appointment with Dr. Zupnick (Internist) today.
03/20/07
Oct 28, 2007
Had appointment at Humber River Regional Hospital today.
01/04/07
Oct 28, 2007
Had appointment with Dr. Hagen today. Talked about surgery. He explained risks and complications.
About Me
Sarnia, ON
Location
26.3
BMI
Surgery
11/30/2007
Surgery Date
May 08, 2005
Member Since
