Followup with Orthopedic Surgeon
Jan 21, 2007
1/22/07 I had a followup with my orthopedic surgeon regarding my continuing significan knee problems. He took new xrays (the last ones were about 2 1/2 years ago. Needless to say he didn't like what he saw. My right knee is completely bone on bone with numerous large bone spurs. He gave me another cortisone shot. He is now sending me back to Florida Orthopedic to see one of the reconstrution surgeons for evaluation for knee replacement. He said they will give me a hard time because of my age, but my xrays and pain are so bad that my quality of life is being significantly impaired. He was amazed that I have been able to lose 78 lbs without significant exercise even with the gastric bypass. I told him I would like to lose all my weight before I do the knee replacement, but he said if I get it done then the last 30-40 lbs would be easier to get off because I could at least walk and do a little more exercise. So I will go for the consult and see what they say. The good news when they weighed me in today I was down another 3 lbs. Hope everyone is doing well and keep drinking and taking vitamins. Until next time.
Followup With Urologist
Jan 18, 2007
1/18/07 Well I had a followup with my urologist that is following me for the kidney stones. First the good news is I am no longer obese. I now fall into the overweight category and would no longer qualify for surgery. So that is my mini wow moment today. As for the Dr. visit, for the most part everything looked good. I am taking in enough fluid, calcium looks good. The oxylates that I am supposed to cut out of my diet are still on the high side of normal, they want me to really watch those. The other thing was that my citric acid was really low, so he gave me a med to help bring that up to where it should be and will help prevent the formation of more stones.
A Mini Wow Moment
Jan 03, 2007
I went to walmart to take back a pair of jeans tonight. I thought I bought a misses size 16 and it was a womens size 16 so they were to big. So when I found the misses size 16, I decided to take a chance and try on a 14 just to see and low and behold they fit. I haven't worn a size 14 in at least 12 years. So I was doing the happy dance. The weight is definitely coming off slower now but it is still coming off. Till next time.
Follow up with PCP
Dec 26, 2006
I had a followup appointment with my PCP today. My weight was 190 exactly 70 pounds lost (yeah me). When he walked in his first words were "your wasting away" I was like yeah I wish. Still a long way to go because the pounds are coming off much slower than at first, but one at a time is all I can do. He was very pleased with my progress. He is going to recheck lab work the beginning of March and I see him again March 7 and then see Dr. Gallagher March 9th, so they can both see the bloodwork. Hopefully I will have lost at least another 20 lbs by then. I only have 5 more lbs until I am just overweight and not obese anymore, that is my next goal. I also asked about going off my blood pressure meds and he said I could try cutting back to 5mg and watch my blood pressures if they seem to be climbing go back up to ten if not stay at the 5mg until I see him next. So I will try and see what happens (unfortunately I have white coat syndrome, blood pressure goes up just walking into a doctors office). Thats all for now.
First Followup with Surgeon
Dec 15, 2006
12-15-06 Today I had my first actual followup with Dr. Gallagher himself. I have lost about 55% of my excess weight at 4 months. He said I was way ahead of schedule. He actually said and I quote "that I was a star patient and following the program to the letter". Dr. Kubera came in and saw me first and was then Dr. Gallagher came in and they were both very pleased with my progress. Especially considering the bit of rough start I had with the nausea. They do want to keep a close eye on my liver enzymes (one of them is elevated). They seem to think that it might have been the rapid weight loss. They also want to be kept in the loop reguarding the kidney stone issue. So I told them I would request all results be sent to them also. Dr. Gallagher also told me I could take a Celebrex 2 - 3 times a week for my joint pain. He doesn't want me to take them every day but the bad days he said would be fine. He wants me to come back in 3 months for I guess it would be a 7 month check.
Follow up with Urologist
Dec 07, 2006
Well I had my followup with my urologist from my hospital stay for the kidney stones. I officially am in onederland, I weighed in at 196. That is the good news. The bad news is He thinks I have another UTI which I am having no symptoms of yet. Also he wants to do a 24 hour urine for Kidney Stone risk. So that will be fun. Also I can't have any green leafy vegetables, no nuts, no berries, no tea or coffee and no chocolate. He did tell me I could go back on all my calcium so that will be good. My followup with Dr. Gallagher is next Friday so I will update again then.
Post Op Support Group Meeting
Nov 21, 2006
11/21/06 I went to my second post op support group meeting tonight. The beginning was just general information about Dr. Murr & Dr. Gallagher's new offices. It sounds like when they do move to their new office they will be equipped to do testing right there in their office. Susan said it will be easier than sending people out all over the place to have testing done. She also told us that they had formed a committee to investigate the possibility of doing gastric bypass on minors. So that will be interesting, most everyone there thought it should depend on the home life and the parents as to whether surgery should be done.
Then one of the new dietitians from Spectra came and talked to us about being prepared for the holidays and to know or bring what you are going to eat. She also talked to us about how important getting enough protein and water in everyday was. She touched a little bit on exercise, which I told her I struggle with daily, just because of the pain I am in.
One last little wow moment was just as we were leaving Susan spoke to me. She told me I looked great and was doing a great job and to keep up the good work. I started to say I probably am not losing as fast as other people and she told me not to compare myself to others and don't beat myself up about it. I came into this with some pretty intense orthopeadic issues and to do the best I can. I told her she made my night.
Oh and one last note I am hanging right there at a 60 lb loss. I do wish the scale would move but I do believe I am losing inches.
Bye for now and keep drinking.
11/03/06 Hospital Followup With PCP
Nov 03, 2006
Had a followup appointment with my pcp today after getting out of the hospital yesterday. I was hospitalized a week ago with infected kidney stones that had blocked a ureter. Can you say ouch. My poor sister had to take me to the Emergency Room and I could not even speak to her because I was in so much pain. I was never so thankful to see an ER doctor in my life. Thank goodness he got me some pain meds really fast. They kept me on IV fluids and clear liquids all weekend hoping I would pass them on my own. Well my body of course didn't cooperate, so on Monday I had surgery to have them removed. I am so weak again, I was finally feeling like myself again when this happened. It is distressing but I am keeping a positive attitude that I will get my strength back faster this time. Oh by the way when I weighed in today I had lost another 3 pounds. I am down to 203 1/2. I can't wait to be under 200lbs. I still struggle with the amount of protein I get but I am working on it.
9/5/06 Follow Up With PCP
Sep 04, 2006
9/5/06 I had a followup with Dr. Bearison my PCP today. I am down 33lbs since the day of surgery wooohooo. It is only 2-4lbs a weeks but it is coming off. He says other than a couple minor problems I am having not related to surgery I am doing great. My knee is one of those problems it just isn't wanting to work. I have a followup with my knee surgeon on Thursday so maybe they can do something to make it better. Dr. Bearison wants to see me in another 2 months, he wants to follow me as well as the surgeons. Everybody keep drinking.
Follow Up With Dr. Gallagher's Nurse Practitioner
Aug 27, 2006
8/28/06 I went to my first followup appointment with Lucie, Dr. Gallagher's nurse practitioner. She went over all the symptoms I might be feeling from head to toe and took the time to discuss them and answer questions as they came up (I took a list with me). They gave me my first B12 shot and I also got prescriptions to get my Vitamin B-12 and needles to give myself shots every 4 weeks. She also gave me a prescription to have some lab work in 2 months. I can now swallow my pills (big yeah), and I can chew sugar free gum or use sugar free mints (yeah). Overall she said I was doing great and according to their scales I had lost 26lbs since the day of surgery. She said I was a little ahead of schedule. She said what they are looking for is a 2-3lb weight loss a week or 10-15lb per month. She said I will hit plateaus but not to worry just wait it out. So all in all a good visit. I see Dr. Gallagher in December for my 4 month check. Also I forgot, she said I had the healthiest liver of any gastric bypass patient they have ever seen. No fatty liver, no cirrhosis, nothing, I told her I was surprised there wasn't something wrong with it after having taken so many meds over the last 20 years. So my liver is healthy wow. Bye for now. Keep drinking.
