Marianne H.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

So I am 8 days out now and feeling pretty damn good all things considered. I really am. When I posted at two days out I was still feeling like crap, and really didn't have the mental clarity to tell you all about the surgery. It wasn't too eventful really!

The day of surgery I had an arrival time of 10am. I live 4 hours from the hospital and so I had to leave my home by about 5:30 am to get there on time and accomodate for rush hour etc. The morning of I wasn't really too nervous. I was a little bit, but the conditions of being NPO and having to drive down to Ypsilanti kept my mind off of that I guess. I just wasn't freaking out. When we arrived at the hospital I was brought back immediately to lab to have my blood drawn and then right up to preop. No delays. My husband was not allowed to come with me, and I was scared, but kept a stiff upper lip in case he noticed me eyes filling up with tears as I walked away. This was it!

I went to preop and was being prepped by some of the best nurses around. I was treated like a friend, had a good laughs generally, and was doing fine getting the IV in, breathing treatments, and all of that jazz performed.I weighed in at #277.6.  When Dr. Pop came to see me, he listened to my lungs and was concerned about some congestion I had left over from a recent cold. He ordered a chest xray, and went with me downstairs to get it. He read it right there with my husband and I, and said it was negative and we could proceed. The little prick of an anesthesiologist comes over after not assessing me, not looking at my chart, nothing, and says, "we might not be able to get you off the vent after surgery because of this cold you have had had recently." I had just been given the IV happy juice, was very stoned, and was pissed! My husband suddenly looked SCARED, and I thought okay, I can't do this to him. I just took my husbands hand, said I love you, and not to worry, and drifted off to sleep. When I woke up later I was OK. Very little pain, NO BREATHING PROBLEMS, and I was just basically really sleepy for about 6 hours.

Within a short amount of time I was up and walking, and I felt pretty decent all things considered. My procedure had gone off without a hitch, and I had 5 little lap puncture sites with bandaids over them. I was sucking on ice chips immediately after. My care in the hospital was awesome. I was never left alone. I had an RT in for breathinf exercises every 2 hours. My nurses and aides were top notch. The facility was immaculately clean. There is nothing negative about this experience for me other than that dumbass anesthesiologist. He was an ASSHOLE and I am going to make a complaint at my follow up appt on 10/13.

Day two was a little tougher. I was moved to liquid vicodin from morphine for pain control. I didn't think I needed any pain meds and then OMG the GAS came rolling in like fog. It hurt soooo bad until I could fart and burp that I cannot describe it to you. I got some vicodin and a suppository and after that I felt much better. My leak test went off without a hitch, I was able to sip liquids, and I was discharged to home.

The ride home sucked. There was really no way to make it better. It was long. I was uncomfortable. The suspension is shot in my Rendezvous and so I was feeling the bumps. And to avoid blood clots I had to get out and walk every 45 min to an hour. It took at least 6 hours to get home. I slept like a log in my own bed the first night home.

And I have had no real issues since then. Little sips of fluids the first few days and more in as swelling decreased. Easier and easier to get around. Incisions look great. ANd I have lost 19# this morning. I feel like a star :) I am hoping to lose another 7-10# before my postop appy. My mom bought me a new outfit and I would love to wear it to my appt, as it is a size 18 and NOT a 22W. I think it is going to fit :)

I can already say it..... I Love my RNY!

Well I am two days out... still feeling the effects of the anesthesia and pain meds. I am OK but will post at a later date so that I make sense at least. Wow I can't believe it is over with....

Oh where do I start? So much has happened over the last few months that it is hard to decide what point to begin with. I did NOT have surgery in July. My husband was let go from his job on 6/26 and I lost my insurance coverage. I had to cancel. I cried my eyes out and started over. I went ahead and elected benefits through my employers plan. They gave me a  similar BCBS and it kicked in 9/1. I had already rescheduled my appts, so  I had my PATS on 9/13. But lets not forget the awesome news that I was FIRED on 9/6/11 for purportedly making negative statements about my employer. Well I didn't then, but I will now. Otsego Memorial Hospital is a dump! I think they got wind of the fact that I was going to have this surgery and they wanted me out of there before I could claim benefits. ASSHOLES!!! I used COBRA and have continued my insurance. Surgery is on Tuesday, 9/27/11. Am I nervous? OMG yes! I have so many obsessive type questions right now!  I am excited to get this done, but scared about complications and such. I have had a cold this week and I was worried i might have to reschedule, but I am getting better each day and feeling strong. I am excited! I conquered the cigarette monster, I am exercising a little more, and now I am finally going to have my Gastric Bypass. I am looking forward to a healthy life, and many years with my sweet husband who I adore. He has neld my hand, wiped my tears, and thought I was beautiful when even I didn't. I am so blessed to be in love with him  I am getting more nervous by the minute, but I am trying to keep that anxiety in perspective. I have a great and skilled surgeon. I am young and fairly healthy. I have made appropriate changes for my health. I am going to be fine, right?  Lord I hope so! Pray for me guys! Next post just before surgery....

I called Barix this morning, and found out that I have a date. Preop on 7/11/11 and surgery on 7/19/11! I am nervous and excited. More thoughts later....

So I started out the day crabby..... I had been waiting since the end of last week to hear from Barix Clinic on an insurance update and I was getting anxious. No call by 3:30, so rather than be more upset I decided to call again. no answer. no answer. no answer. Got caught up in the darned voicemail loop and was pretty pissed off. I left a snarky message requesting a call back, and lo and behold five minutes later, the phone rang. I was all prepared for a fight. I wanted to chew someone's ass. What is the deal???? But then I heard the most wonderful three words I have ever heard..... I AM APPROVED!!!!! I am so over the top excited! I get to schedule my PAT'S and surgical date this week. I immediately thanked Vicky 40 times and resisted the urge to cry. I am sailing right now!!! LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

So I have sleep apnea. WTF!!! I NEVER would have believed it without the results of the study. NEVER! I don't snore. I feel like shite some mornings, but wouldn't you if you were 100# plus overweight? I went back to Sleep Diagnostics on June 3 for a titration study and it was really a little freaky for me. The pressure in my nose from the machine felt strange, and I was just overall kinda nervous. I did ok though. I got my personal machine yesterday, and used it for the first time last night. i managed to keep it on for eight hours, so I guess that was pretty good. I will have to learn to use it all of the time at least for now. I have everything done for the surgeons requirements now. I am just waiting on Barix of MI to get me preapproved through BCBS. I just want to get this done. I am so tired of swollen ankles, tight pants, bras that dig into my fat, and feeling ashamed of my appearance. It was an unseasonably warm 96 degrees here this week and I was extremely uncomfortable. I just want to get this rolling so that I can feel better! My husband had a sleep study Wednesday night and he has OSA too. We have been laughing about the fact that we will both have CPAP machines, but I have to tell you.... we are both going to look like freaks! At least if he has to wear one too then I won't feel tooo bad about not looking cute while I sleep LOL.  If you are reading this please Pray for me that Barix gets their poop in a group and speeds up the process!

So I had my sleep consult with Dr. MacAuley on the 20th. Went OK I guess. His belief is that most people have some form of sleep apnea and that we are all going to die if we aren't treated, Hmmm... OK Whatever! I went on 5/26 for the actual sleep study and it was kinda crazy. They hook you up to a million electrodes on your head, chest, and legs, and place a band on your chest. They they put a pressure transducer in your nose (just like the ones for oxygen) and a pulse oximeter on your finger and ask you to go to sleep. LOL!   Surprisingly I didn't have any trouble and nodded of within twenty minutes or so. The technician had told me that they needed 6 hours of uninterrrupted sleep recording and that after that I could leave at any time. I woke up at  3:30 am and felt fully rested, refreshed, and awake. I never feel like this. Huh! I wonder if MY HUSBAND'S SNORING is what is interrupting my sleep? They never woke me during that time to put me on oxygen or anything. The tech said that I would be woken up if my oxygen dropped below 88%. I wonder if this means I don't have apnea? If so then I am ready to be submitted to insurance for approval I just can't wait until Tuesday when I can call for my results!  Until then Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Well things are moving along as well as can be expected. I saw my PCP on Friday for my annual (was WAY overdue) and we had a nice chat. She fully supports me in this and says she will help in any way she can. I had labs drawn and all in all they dont look too bad. Cholesterol was under 200 (197total) and this is good since last time it was 248! Fasting glucose only 86. I guess avoiding the processed food these last few months has helped some. My thyroid issues are under good control.  I have a psych eval appt tomorrow and I am actually looking forward to this. The psychologist has a whole program in my little podunk town that he devotes to bariatric patients so I feel welcome and understood. I have my sleep consult on 5/20 and sleep study on 5/26. Once these are done I can be submitted to insurance. I CAN'T WAIT! My only worry is that I begin a new job next monday and I am afraid of what my need for time of in a couple of months will do to this, but my health has to come first, right? I guess I will just wait and see what happens, but my surgeon said because it is a desk job I shouldn't need a boatload of time off barring any complications of course. Wish me luck!

Well this morning my spirits are much brighter. I saw my surgeon Dr. Poplawski yesterday. You have just got to love this guy! He spent about 40 minutes with my husband and I, and answered lots of our questions. I never felt rushed and we even spent some time just shooting the breeze. I am soooooo glad he will be the one to do my procedure. I need a sleep study and a new psych eval (mine is too old) and then I should be on my way. When I expressed to Dr. Pop that I wanted to get this done ASAP he even offered to open up another date in his surgical calendar to accomodate me. I am ecstatic! My best friend went with me to Ypsi too and she is also going to have surgery, hopefully at the same time. I am praying all of this comes together pretty quickly! BCBSM should cover me with no problems because I have several co-morbids and my BMI is way over 40 now . Well I am off to make some appts....wish me luck!

Update four years later.... I never did have WLS. My insurance co (at the time priority health) required me to do a 6 month liquid diet.....ARRGGGGHHHH!!!!!. I lost a ton of weight. From 273# to 187#. Felt great. But as soon as I started eating again I gained gained gained... So damn depressing! I am back at about #260 now and am going for RNY with Dr. Poplawski at Barix. I have an appt on May 4th and my best friend does too.... Thank God!  I now have BCBSMI through my husband's employer and shouldn't have any problems meeting their requirements for surgery. Just waiting impatiently now. If there was a drive through for this surgery I would be getting pulled over  for speeding on my way there right now. So sick of feeling like crap! My husband and bestie are very supportive but my mother is not. She says some of the stupidest things to me.... oh well. i know I need this and I guess it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I am soooo looking forward to feeling better! I am new here for a second time so please if you are reading this feel free to add me. I would love to have a mentor and some friends that are starting out now too. Peace Y'all!