marion6366
Back to Work
Jun 15, 2009
Today was my first day back to work and boy was that tough!! I was home for 3 weeks and it really would have been nice if I could have eased back into work with a week of 1/2 days, but unfortunately my pocketbook will not allow that. I have a desk job, so you think that would be easy, but it's not. My back, hips, and stomach are killing me! You don't realize how often you really use your ab muscles until now. I can only imagine what I'm going to feel like when I wake up tomorrow morning.
One good thing - I eat less when I'm at work (which is the opposite from before WLS). I have packed my lunch and that was it. No snacking - and I can tell, this water is not filling me up and I am HUNGRY!! I might have to bring a snack for tomorrow - I'm afraid I'll go home and eat too fast and get sick because of being so hungry. I do look forward to being able to eat a little bit more normal. I know I'll always eat small amounts but right now the amount is soo small you can hardly call it a meal! I'm still at only 1/4-1/2 of cottage cheese. Last night I had nice moist chicken, but I only ate like 1 oz - MAYBE 1.5 before I am not feeling well. Can't wait for that feeling to go away!
Marion
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One good thing - I eat less when I'm at work (which is the opposite from before WLS). I have packed my lunch and that was it. No snacking - and I can tell, this water is not filling me up and I am HUNGRY!! I might have to bring a snack for tomorrow - I'm afraid I'll go home and eat too fast and get sick because of being so hungry. I do look forward to being able to eat a little bit more normal. I know I'll always eat small amounts but right now the amount is soo small you can hardly call it a meal! I'm still at only 1/4-1/2 of cottage cheese. Last night I had nice moist chicken, but I only ate like 1 oz - MAYBE 1.5 before I am not feeling well. Can't wait for that feeling to go away!
Marion
Dr. Visit
Jun 08, 2009
Well, I saw the oncologist last Thursday and my bone marrow biopsy came out pretty good. My bone marrow is actually making more blood than normal, but I guess that's okay. So he says I have a blood disorder called ITP, which is Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, which just means that I have a low platelet level with no known cause. Pretty fancy name huh? It's chronic, and the cure-oh yeah, there is no cure. It's just something that you have and they wouldn't do anything about it unless I absolutely HAD to have surgery again. Then they would pump me up with steroids to get my platelet level up, but as soon as they stop the steroids the count will drop again. So I have been told I am never to have surgery again, unless it's absolutely necessary and I am to never take any products that contain Aspirin.
I also find out from my liver biopsy that I have NASH Syndrome "Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is liver inflammation caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. NASH is part of a group of liver diseases, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, in which fat builds up in the liver and sometimes causes liver damage that gets worse over time (progressive liver damage). Although the cause is not known, NASH seems to be related to certain other conditions, including obesity, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and diabetes. Treatment for NASH involves controlling those underlying diseases. The exact cause of NASH is not known. It most commonly affects people who are middle-aged and are overweight or obese, have high cholesterol and triglycerides, or have diabetes. Yet it can occur in people who have none of these risk factors. Excess body fat along with high cholesterol and high blood pressure are also signs of a condition called metabolic syndrome."
So it turns out that the only treatment for NASH is to lose weight - and they wouldn't have found out that I had NASH if I hadn't of had the surgery (which would have lead to liver cirrhosis), so it's probably a good thing overall that I did have the surgery!!
I have my post-op appt this Wednesday morning. I don't think that will be much of anything. Every day is getting a little bit better. The pain is much better, but I get really warn out fast. I went to the grocery store with my husband last night to pick up a few items and after about 10 minutes I could barely walk anymore I was so tired and getting sore. So I had planned on going back to work today - but that obviously didn't happen. I've decided to stay home for another week (even though the pocket book wishes otherwise) and hopefully I will be better by next Monday!
Catch you all later, Marion
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I also find out from my liver biopsy that I have NASH Syndrome "Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is liver inflammation caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. NASH is part of a group of liver diseases, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, in which fat builds up in the liver and sometimes causes liver damage that gets worse over time (progressive liver damage). Although the cause is not known, NASH seems to be related to certain other conditions, including obesity, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and diabetes. Treatment for NASH involves controlling those underlying diseases. The exact cause of NASH is not known. It most commonly affects people who are middle-aged and are overweight or obese, have high cholesterol and triglycerides, or have diabetes. Yet it can occur in people who have none of these risk factors. Excess body fat along with high cholesterol and high blood pressure are also signs of a condition called metabolic syndrome."
So it turns out that the only treatment for NASH is to lose weight - and they wouldn't have found out that I had NASH if I hadn't of had the surgery (which would have lead to liver cirrhosis), so it's probably a good thing overall that I did have the surgery!!
I have my post-op appt this Wednesday morning. I don't think that will be much of anything. Every day is getting a little bit better. The pain is much better, but I get really warn out fast. I went to the grocery store with my husband last night to pick up a few items and after about 10 minutes I could barely walk anymore I was so tired and getting sore. So I had planned on going back to work today - but that obviously didn't happen. I've decided to stay home for another week (even though the pocket book wishes otherwise) and hopefully I will be better by next Monday!
Catch you all later, Marion
8 Days Post-op
Jun 03, 2009
Sorry I didn't write sooner, but my computer is downstairs and this is the first day I've ventured to the basement. Thank God there's a bathroom down here - and I have no idea how long it's going to take me to be back up the stairs!
Surgery.....mmmm.....didn't go so well for me. It turns out that I have a really low platelet count and even though it was on my pre-op tests, I guess no one noticed how low it was. Turns out I should have never had surgery - yikes! My count before surgery was 30,000 (normal is around 400,000!!!) and after surgery it was down to 27,000. So the same day of surgery I got a bag of platelets. Turns out that did absolutely nothing - - so they figured something in me is gobbling up my platelets, which is what helps to clot your blood.
So I get to United Hospital in St. Paul, MN at 5:30 A.M. and no joke, it takes 5 sticks to get the IV in!! Sadly, this was only the beginning. I wake up from surgery and the first thing I really remember is the Dr hovering over me telling me how long it took because my liver and spleen were large, I am anemic, my platelet level is really low, my white blood count is high, so they took a liver biopsy while they were in there. He states that if he had known it would have been like this he would have never done the surgery. WOW- a lot to take in at once.
I have 8 nice little incisions in two lines down my stomach - really sexy, to go along with the 4 I already had from my gall bladder and one from my appendix. And I am up and walking by that evening. Thank God for Morphine drips! The next day I am still in a lot of pain, they are constantly taking out blood and no one can get it without sticking me 2-3 times - OUCH! This is the day where they tell me I have to see a blood Dr about my platelets. Okay, that's kinda freaky. So the blood Dr (oncologist - like in CANCER -that scared me) comes and tells me I have to have a bone marrow biopsy!!!!
I'm not stupid - I've heard about those - they really hurt a lot! So now, I'm really freaked and still in a lot of pain and I'm getting a migraine on top of everything. Meds, please! On Thursday afternoon (Day 3) I am getting a bone marrow biopsy. That was the most painful experience of my life!! I will NEVER have another one of those done! They came and did it when my husband was not there, so I was really unhappy about having to go through that alone.....
Finally I got to go home on Friday morning. I'm still in a lot of pain, more then I expected - both of my arms are so bruised from all the sticks that it looks like someone has really beaten me up. I will say though......all of the Drs and Nurses at United were very friendly and helpful!!
So now we go home and that car ride was awful! Every turn and bump sent me crying out. I can honestly say I don't think I would ever go through all of this again. My husband tells me that I will feel better about everything a month from now when I feel better - that may be so, but as of right now - even 8 days out, I still feel pretty crappy.
And talk about eating---aaah. I had a week of clear liquids: water, Popsicles, broth, and jello. Which still left me hungry - it was weird. So now I was excited to get to full liquids this week! But my first meal, tomato soup, I could only eat 2 spoon fulls before I thought I was going to explode. and I felt horrible all night! The only thing that is really working is fat free, sugar free instant pudding. I can nibble on that - still I can't eat hardly anything. That is really frustrating, so meal time is not normal for me yet. I'm nibbling here and there, not getting in "3" meals a day yet.
Medicine is really hard. I have to cut every pill in 1/2 and it tastes awful, and it's not like I have a lot to drink it down with! Sometimes I can feel them getting stuck in my throat - yuck.
My husband had to prop up the head of my daughters bed with tons of blankets to raise it up for me, more like a hospital bed - that's the only way I can sleep on it.
Sorry to sound so negative everyone - - I'm just still in a lot of pain and can't do a whole lot. I see the oncologist tomorrow morning - so I'll let you know how that goes!
**positive note - I have lost 20 lbs in 7 days!!!!
See ya- Marion
3 comments
Surgery.....mmmm.....didn't go so well for me. It turns out that I have a really low platelet count and even though it was on my pre-op tests, I guess no one noticed how low it was. Turns out I should have never had surgery - yikes! My count before surgery was 30,000 (normal is around 400,000!!!) and after surgery it was down to 27,000. So the same day of surgery I got a bag of platelets. Turns out that did absolutely nothing - - so they figured something in me is gobbling up my platelets, which is what helps to clot your blood.
So I get to United Hospital in St. Paul, MN at 5:30 A.M. and no joke, it takes 5 sticks to get the IV in!! Sadly, this was only the beginning. I wake up from surgery and the first thing I really remember is the Dr hovering over me telling me how long it took because my liver and spleen were large, I am anemic, my platelet level is really low, my white blood count is high, so they took a liver biopsy while they were in there. He states that if he had known it would have been like this he would have never done the surgery. WOW- a lot to take in at once.
I have 8 nice little incisions in two lines down my stomach - really sexy, to go along with the 4 I already had from my gall bladder and one from my appendix. And I am up and walking by that evening. Thank God for Morphine drips! The next day I am still in a lot of pain, they are constantly taking out blood and no one can get it without sticking me 2-3 times - OUCH! This is the day where they tell me I have to see a blood Dr about my platelets. Okay, that's kinda freaky. So the blood Dr (oncologist - like in CANCER -that scared me) comes and tells me I have to have a bone marrow biopsy!!!!
I'm not stupid - I've heard about those - they really hurt a lot! So now, I'm really freaked and still in a lot of pain and I'm getting a migraine on top of everything. Meds, please! On Thursday afternoon (Day 3) I am getting a bone marrow biopsy. That was the most painful experience of my life!! I will NEVER have another one of those done! They came and did it when my husband was not there, so I was really unhappy about having to go through that alone.....
Finally I got to go home on Friday morning. I'm still in a lot of pain, more then I expected - both of my arms are so bruised from all the sticks that it looks like someone has really beaten me up. I will say though......all of the Drs and Nurses at United were very friendly and helpful!!
So now we go home and that car ride was awful! Every turn and bump sent me crying out. I can honestly say I don't think I would ever go through all of this again. My husband tells me that I will feel better about everything a month from now when I feel better - that may be so, but as of right now - even 8 days out, I still feel pretty crappy.
And talk about eating---aaah. I had a week of clear liquids: water, Popsicles, broth, and jello. Which still left me hungry - it was weird. So now I was excited to get to full liquids this week! But my first meal, tomato soup, I could only eat 2 spoon fulls before I thought I was going to explode. and I felt horrible all night! The only thing that is really working is fat free, sugar free instant pudding. I can nibble on that - still I can't eat hardly anything. That is really frustrating, so meal time is not normal for me yet. I'm nibbling here and there, not getting in "3" meals a day yet.
Medicine is really hard. I have to cut every pill in 1/2 and it tastes awful, and it's not like I have a lot to drink it down with! Sometimes I can feel them getting stuck in my throat - yuck.
My husband had to prop up the head of my daughters bed with tons of blankets to raise it up for me, more like a hospital bed - that's the only way I can sleep on it.
Sorry to sound so negative everyone - - I'm just still in a lot of pain and can't do a whole lot. I see the oncologist tomorrow morning - so I'll let you know how that goes!
**positive note - I have lost 20 lbs in 7 days!!!!
See ya- Marion
Tomorrow's the big day!
May 25, 2009
Wow, I only have 10 hours until surgery! I haven't been able to eat since noon today, just clear liquids. At 3pm I had to take 4 oz of Miralax with 38 oz of Gatorade - YUCK!! And then nothing after midnight. I am soo hungry right now!
Tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 A.M.!! Surgery is set for 7:30 - yikes I'm so not a morning person. Maybe I will be soo tired I won't be able to be nervous!
Cause right now I'm nervous! I start to get queasy just thinking about surgery. I don't deal well with pain and needles, so that's what I'm most worried about!
Good Luck to all of you that are going under the knife with me tomorrow!!
Marion
3 comments
Tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 A.M.!! Surgery is set for 7:30 - yikes I'm so not a morning person. Maybe I will be soo tired I won't be able to be nervous!
Cause right now I'm nervous! I start to get queasy just thinking about surgery. I don't deal well with pain and needles, so that's what I'm most worried about!
Good Luck to all of you that are going under the knife with me tomorrow!!
Marion
Surgery Scare!!
May 22, 2009
I just about had a heart attack today.
About 1pm my regular Doc calls me and says, "I've been trying to get a hold of your surgeon." I'm like "What??" He explains to me that in all the testing they had me do the night before at my pre-op, well my liver function was high. Both my reg Doc and I believe it's from the Darvocet and Endocet I take for my migraines - both include Acetaminophen, which affects liver function, but he said it might be enough where they would reschedule my surgery!! He wanted to talk to the surgeon and try to explain this.
I was freaking out. Here I am at work breaking down....I mean when you get soo close and this was to be my last day at my day job before surgery....I just couldn't believe it. Now I was worried my reg Doc wouldn't get a hold of the surgeon. So, I took matters into my own hands and called the surgeons office. No, he's not in the office today because he's in surgery. Okay, so I call the hospital and ask to speak to his nurse. I explain the situation to her and explain to her that my surgery is TUESDAY. So she tells me she will immediately page the surgeon and have him call my Doc.
So I wait......and wait....
Finally, before I'm about to leave work, to go to work (2nd job) when I get the call from my reg Doc stating that the Surgeon called him and said that my liver function was not what he considered to be high and that they will take a look at it while they're in there and if they need to they'll take a biopsy to do tests on. THANK GOD my surgery was still on!!!!!
When that conversation was over, I felt like I had run a marathon!! I was just emotionally wiped out. I am so thankful that every thing is going as planned.
Take care everyone, stay strong! Marion
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About 1pm my regular Doc calls me and says, "I've been trying to get a hold of your surgeon." I'm like "What??" He explains to me that in all the testing they had me do the night before at my pre-op, well my liver function was high. Both my reg Doc and I believe it's from the Darvocet and Endocet I take for my migraines - both include Acetaminophen, which affects liver function, but he said it might be enough where they would reschedule my surgery!! He wanted to talk to the surgeon and try to explain this.
I was freaking out. Here I am at work breaking down....I mean when you get soo close and this was to be my last day at my day job before surgery....I just couldn't believe it. Now I was worried my reg Doc wouldn't get a hold of the surgeon. So, I took matters into my own hands and called the surgeons office. No, he's not in the office today because he's in surgery. Okay, so I call the hospital and ask to speak to his nurse. I explain the situation to her and explain to her that my surgery is TUESDAY. So she tells me she will immediately page the surgeon and have him call my Doc.
So I wait......and wait....
Finally, before I'm about to leave work, to go to work (2nd job) when I get the call from my reg Doc stating that the Surgeon called him and said that my liver function was not what he considered to be high and that they will take a look at it while they're in there and if they need to they'll take a biopsy to do tests on. THANK GOD my surgery was still on!!!!!
When that conversation was over, I felt like I had run a marathon!! I was just emotionally wiped out. I am so thankful that every thing is going as planned.
Take care everyone, stay strong! Marion
Almost time!
May 21, 2009
It's hard to believe that my surgery is this coming Tuesday (5/26/09)!! Today (Friday 5/22/09) is my last day at work for my day job. I come back to work Monday June 8th as long as all goes well! It's the beginning of Memorial Weekend today and unfortunately I do have to work all weekend long at my part-time law enforcement job. In fact I have to go to work tonight AFTER work today! Then I have to work Sat 6am - 4pm and Sun 6am-4pm and then I'm DONE! Usually I love my cop job, but it's been getting very hard to be comfortable. After putting on a sports bra, t-shirt, bullet-proof vest, lovely polyester uniform, and a 15lb duty belt - well, you can imagine how that feels on a big person. Now try wearing all that and getting in and out of a squad car (which is packed to the gills with equipment! YUCK! (and no one wants a fat cop)
So I had my pre-op last night and what a laundry list of tests Dr. Kelly had for me! My family doc was impressed. I had a urinalysis, they took at least 7 vials of blood for all the tests, then I had a chest x-ray and an EKG (which was perfect thank God!).
I'm excited and nervous for Tuesday! Excited to start this new portion of my life, but yet scared about waking up in pain (& I hate needles so I'm not looking forward to that either) The past two weeks I've been having really bad migraines-I'm wondering if I'm not really worrying subconsciously....?
Keep the Faith everyone! Marion
0 comments
So I had my pre-op last night and what a laundry list of tests Dr. Kelly had for me! My family doc was impressed. I had a urinalysis, they took at least 7 vials of blood for all the tests, then I had a chest x-ray and an EKG (which was perfect thank God!).
I'm excited and nervous for Tuesday! Excited to start this new portion of my life, but yet scared about waking up in pain (& I hate needles so I'm not looking forward to that either) The past two weeks I've been having really bad migraines-I'm wondering if I'm not really worrying subconsciously....?
Keep the Faith everyone! Marion
Finally some luck
May 11, 2009
I don't believe it! My Dr's office called and asked if I wanted to move my surgery date up! Hell yes! This is what I have been waiting for! Apparently my Dr is now going out of town when I was supposed to have surgery (June 16) so he added another surgery day in May on the 26th.
So now I only have TWO WEEKS TO GO!! I am so excited I can't even believe it! This Friday (15th) I have a class I have to go to from 1-3 pm up at the hospital. Then I have my pre-op appt with my general practitioner on the evening of the 21st. Then I work Fri, Sat & Sun of Memorial weekend (the cop thing) then rest up on Monday and surgery on Tuesday!!!
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So now I only have TWO WEEKS TO GO!! I am so excited I can't even believe it! This Friday (15th) I have a class I have to go to from 1-3 pm up at the hospital. Then I have my pre-op appt with my general practitioner on the evening of the 21st. Then I work Fri, Sat & Sun of Memorial weekend (the cop thing) then rest up on Monday and surgery on Tuesday!!!
More Waiting
Apr 27, 2009
This is getting so hard! Even though I know that I'm going to be having WLS I feel worse than ever.......I feel so awful about the way I look that I'm to the point that I don't leave my house unless I absolutely HAVE to!!
I have surgery in June-but right now that feels like a year away. I really can't stand mirrors......I used to be the kind of person that loved dressing in cute clothes and I have tons of shoes, jewelry, and make-up but I never wear any of it anymore. It's like I know I look so terrible that what's the point of trying to dress it up? I don't WANT people looking at me right now....I just want to blend in to the background. I don't even wear lipstick anymore!
I truly don't know how my husband puts up with it....I don't like to look at me, I don't know how HE can......Needless to say, June and surgery will not come fast enough for me. I don't care if I never have sugar or a piece of pizza again in my LIFE! To me that is a small price to pay for getting my life and my body back in line!
I now weight between 215-225. I see people getting down to 130, 125 etc. That would be great, but I'm not gonna set myself up for failure. I'd be happy with 170, 165.
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I have surgery in June-but right now that feels like a year away. I really can't stand mirrors......I used to be the kind of person that loved dressing in cute clothes and I have tons of shoes, jewelry, and make-up but I never wear any of it anymore. It's like I know I look so terrible that what's the point of trying to dress it up? I don't WANT people looking at me right now....I just want to blend in to the background. I don't even wear lipstick anymore!
I truly don't know how my husband puts up with it....I don't like to look at me, I don't know how HE can......Needless to say, June and surgery will not come fast enough for me. I don't care if I never have sugar or a piece of pizza again in my LIFE! To me that is a small price to pay for getting my life and my body back in line!
I now weight between 215-225. I see people getting down to 130, 125 etc. That would be great, but I'm not gonna set myself up for failure. I'd be happy with 170, 165.
About Time!
Apr 16, 2009
YEAH! I FINALLY have a surgery date! I can't believe it! It's set for June 16th! I was totally bummed that it was that far out (they told me before it would probably be mid-May), but at least I have one now.
I was bummed that I have to spend that much more time in this body and that now I really do have to go buy some new clothes. I've been putting it off and putting it off, because I kept telling myself, "I'm gonna have surgery soon so I don't want to spend money on clothes that hopefully won't fit me." But summer is now coming and I really don't fit into any of my old clothes. So I broke down and bought a couple of shirts.
One thing my Dr did say was that the surgery works for about 80% of people. Wow - those 20% may gain the weight back, or it just doesn't work....now I'm TERRIFIED that will be me! I'm not afraid of he surgery or the pain, or the eating close to nothing....I'm afraid that it won't work and then what do I do??? You know? This is my last resort and if that doesn't work, I'm really screwed!
So I weighed in at 225 and I tell you, if I get down to even 180 or 170 - I'll be happy.
I go in on Fri June 5th for some pre-op class, have surgery Tue June 16, and then have my post-op appt on July 1! I'm so excited I just can't stand it!
Marion
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I was bummed that I have to spend that much more time in this body and that now I really do have to go buy some new clothes. I've been putting it off and putting it off, because I kept telling myself, "I'm gonna have surgery soon so I don't want to spend money on clothes that hopefully won't fit me." But summer is now coming and I really don't fit into any of my old clothes. So I broke down and bought a couple of shirts.
One thing my Dr did say was that the surgery works for about 80% of people. Wow - those 20% may gain the weight back, or it just doesn't work....now I'm TERRIFIED that will be me! I'm not afraid of he surgery or the pain, or the eating close to nothing....I'm afraid that it won't work and then what do I do??? You know? This is my last resort and if that doesn't work, I'm really screwed!
So I weighed in at 225 and I tell you, if I get down to even 180 or 170 - I'll be happy.
I go in on Fri June 5th for some pre-op class, have surgery Tue June 16, and then have my post-op appt on July 1! I'm so excited I just can't stand it!
Marion
Aaah!
Apr 14, 2009
So I had my consultation with my surgeon yesterday. FInally! And I thought that was when I'd be able to set the surgery date. But NOOOO. He says his scheduler will call me tomorrow (today). So me, the impatient one, I call her this morning and she's like "Oh, yes, I was just going to call you." And she's like "oh, I have to go get your file, I'll call you back."
That was this morning and I have gotten NO CALL BACK!!!!! Does she not realize how much I've been waiting for this? How my whole entire schudule is waiting for a date????? I tell you the people who work in these offices (not the doctors themselves) really need to realize just how important this is to us and how long we've been waiting for this day to come.
So, I am going to be a thorn in her side. I am going to call her right away in the morning tomorrow and keep it up until I get a date!!!
Sorry-had to get that off my chest.
Marion
1 comment
That was this morning and I have gotten NO CALL BACK!!!!! Does she not realize how much I've been waiting for this? How my whole entire schudule is waiting for a date????? I tell you the people who work in these offices (not the doctors themselves) really need to realize just how important this is to us and how long we've been waiting for this day to come.
So, I am going to be a thorn in her side. I am going to call her right away in the morning tomorrow and keep it up until I get a date!!!
Sorry-had to get that off my chest.
Marion
About Me
Hammond, WI
Location
23.2
BMI
Surgery
05/26/2009
Surgery Date
Mar 11, 2009
Member Since
