v4victory
Hi All: I just had the RNY procedure March 22, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. My surgeon is Hazem N. Shamseddeen, M. D. I'll never forget the day in July, 2011 when my medical complaints to my general practitioner were about starting to injure my arms & hands in supporting my weight to get in and out of bed, and up and down from seated position. I was being treated mainly for complications of Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Morbid Obesity, and severe mobility impairment requiring use of a power wheelchair.She asked me if I had ever considered Bariatric surgery, told me to do my homework and let her know what I decide. (I thought only people who had really good insurance coverage and income could have the surgery). When I told my daughters the things I had learned about it from research over the web, they became so excited and supportive, that we began thanking God continually for this chance to change my life.
I was not at all afraid of having Gastric Bypass surgery and hoped to obtain quick approval in order to have it done ASAP. I first went to the St. Francis Weight Loss Center on April 2, 2012, and returned for orientation of April 5, 2012. Thus my journey began growing more and more frustrated with the screening process I had to complete before I would be told that I met the qualifications for having the surgery. I scheduled and followed-through with the orders for lab work, cardiac evaluation, sleep study, and psych eval, but later found that the psych eval tripped me up because I had some deep issues stemming from childhood physical and emotional abuse. My daughters yelled "Mom what did you tell them all that stuff for!" It's funny as I think now of their reaction. I received orders to have weekly counseling, and jumped through all the hoops necessary to convince them I have come such a long way, and I'm ready to move-on. I finally got that "Congratulations you're having the surgery" call December, 2012, and in January, 2013 learned the date for my Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass surgery: March 22, 2013!
It was a beautiful experience of togetherness for my daughters and I in leaving our homes at 5:00 A.M. to get me checked-in at St. Francis by 6:00 A.M. The Intake Nurse was so perky and entertaining, and the Chaplin who came in offering to pray did an excellent job. I'm right-handed and they had to put the IV in the right-arm, because the left-arm wasn't showing my artery--big mistake! That is extremely awkward and uncomfortable, and any movement of the arm sets off alarms. I was perfectly calm when they came and got me for surgery, as I told my daughters "I'll see you in a bit." Surgery went just great and they woke me before getting me into my hospital bed. My daughters were already there waiting. I was not in any pain, except that I had a sore throat, which felt like Tonsillitis. I was in the hospital from Friday, until Monday, March 25, 2013. My daughters surprised me and did not take me home, but rather drove me to the oldest daughter's apartment where I stayed 10 days before returning to my apartment. It was sweet how my youngest daughter and her kids, gutted my kitchen of "trigger foods" and stashes. My daughters worked together those first few days at taking care of me, preparing my meals, and giving me the 2x/day shots.
Because I had both my daughters by C-Section, and also had a total Hysterectomy, I was familiar with abdominal surgery and determined for once, not to suffer from gas pains. I'm proud to say that I had NO gas pains. Oh, and that "Binder" elastic wrap was a wonderful recovery tool for me, because it helped hold me together--especially when I had to cough.
I'll stop here because My Story could go on-and-on...LOL