SarahJ618

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I am almost four months out and have lost 94 lbs now.  I can't believe I didn't do this sooner!  I am feeling better with eating now.  I can eat more of a variety of food now, without getting sick.  I am down to a size 20 in most of my clothes so now I have to shop shop shop more!!  I finally uploaded a picture of me but I don't know how to make it bigger...more pictures to come.

Well I guess I haven't updated in quite a while.  I am down 63 lbs since June 22 and I feel ok.  I had a nasty UTI that I knocked my on my behind at the end of July and I wasn't able to eat or drink I was so sick.  I ended up three days in the hospital and went back to basics for eating but I feel better now.  Still happy I had the surgery.  Clothes are definately fitting looser!!

So it's July 10th and I am sitting in the Minniapolis airport so I thought this would be a good time to do an update.  I made it through this surgery alive and with no complications so far and for that I am very grateful.  We arrived in Monterray on June 30th and relaxed until the next morning when I went for my pre-op tests.  Everything was arranged before hand, and the hotel shuttle drove us and picked us up from every appointment.  They are obviously very used to dealing with Dr. Rumbaut's patients.  In the morning I had an ECG, bloodwork drawn and a chest xray.  In the afternoon I met with Dr. Lizcelly, who deals with the nutrician side of it, and then Dr. Rumbaut himself.  It was kind of funny because I actually got goosebumps when I saw him, like he was a celebraty or something.  All my tests were good and I was cleared for surgery.

On July 2 I arrived at the San Jose Hospital at 900 to admissions and while I spoke no spanish and the admissions person spoke very little english I still was able to check in and go up to the pre-op area.  The nurse came in and had me change in a gown and attempted to start the IV.  Sadly (for me) she couldn't get either one so another nurse came and he got it in.  Dr. Rumbaut then came by and gave me a pep talk and it was off to the OR.  All I remember from that it the anesthetist telling me who she was and then I was out.  I woke up in recovery while they were taking my catheter out and was in alot of pain.  They quickly gave me pain meds and I was out again.  I made it back up to my room about 5:00 where my son and brother were waiting and man was this a hospital room.  It was huge with a sofa for guests to sleep on and a huge marble bathroom with a walk-in shower.  It was actually called a junior suite.

When I woke up the first thing I did was check to see if I had a feeding tube or JP drain and lucky me...I had both (not really).  The feeding tube hurt more than the actual surgery.  And getting it out was equally painful, but a relief at the same time.  I was nothing by mouth while I had the feeding tube, and started on one oz of ensure every three hours the day following surgery.  I went for my leak test on July 8th and all was good so they removed the tube and the drain and I was able to taste water for the first time in a week.  I was on a clear fluid diet for a few days and then today I can advance to a full fluid diet. I am soooo happy to have something other than chicken broth!!

Overall, I had a great experience and would recommend this surgeon to my closest friends.  I wish I knew spanish but still managed to make out ok.

Ohh..the hotel....it was very nice and clean.  There was a grocery store and mall right beside it...and applebees, mcdonalds and starbucks right beside it as well, and tons of shopping all within a 10 minute drive that the hotel shuttle would drive you and pick you up from. 

Well we have arrived in Monterray and it was a very uneventful ride the whole way down.  No seatbelt extenders needed on any of the three flights, although one was very snug.  I was down 10 lbs as of yesterday morning.  Wil write more later once I get back from the pre-op tests.

Well it's day three of 10 in my liquid diet and so far I am surviving!!  As of this morning I have lost 3.5 lbs so that is motivation to keep going, as well as knowing that my liver is shrinking so that my surgery will be less complicated.  I was really hungery yesterday and have lots of headaches, but today is better.  I am getting my house clean for when I get home so that is keeping me busy.  Everyone keeps asking me if I'm nervous and scared and it is really pissing me off.  I wish I wouldn't have told anybody until I got back so that I don't have to keep talking about it.  I think I'm going to buy the chocolate protein shakes to see if I tolerate them better.

Well today I started my liquid diet.  3 days of full fluids and 7 days of clear fluids.  When I weighed myself this morning I was 366.2 so that is what I am going to use as my starting weight.  The EAS protien shake I had this morning was not super great, and I could only get half in, but I'm trying!!  I got the Vanilla creme flavour and am thinking I should have went with chocolate.  Oh well...live and learn.  I leave in 7 days for Monterray and I am starting to get very nervous. 

Well things are definately moving along.  Today I bought the bank drafts to pay for my surgery in 2 weeks.  I am on the home stretch of getting things ready to go.  My 14 year old son is coming with me to Monterray and then my brother is meeting us there.  He will be there until I leave the hospital and then it's just me and my son.  I am so excited and looking forward to these changes that are going to happen in my life.  More to come.....