Robin D.

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When I first discoved OH and before I had the sense to save everything, I came across a person that had a list of medications that one should avoid post-op.  It was a pretty lengthy list.  No amount of searching has found this list a second time.  If anyone happens across such a list in their travels on OH, please keep me in mind.  Thanks so much!

I had my meeting with Dr. Wieger this morning.  It went very well.  We discussed medical information and then reviewed what the surgery entailed, the risks, the expectations and picked the surgeon.  He was very informative and answered all of the questions I had.  I did ask him if he felt there is a chance that either my husband or I would be denied by the insurance company and he thought it was unlikely as our insurance doesn't have pre-requisites and we both have documented health issues that would benefit from the surgery.  He did suggest that I not lose weight until approved because of falling out of the weight range that is required for the surgery in the first place.  He did say that after we have approval then by all means, try to drop as much pre-surgery so to be able to reap more benefits post-surgery.  I am all for that, of course!  I haven't been able to understand how it was that my husbands BMI was lower than mine but that mystery was solved as well today.  Apparently as my husband and I were together for our first appointment, the BMI's were inadvertently switched and he had mine, me his, etc.  Whew!  My husband had tried to explain it back then as he had more muscle, etc and I from lack of another explaination bought into that.  Silly me!  I should have known better!  LOL!  So if nothing else had come out of today's appointment, I would have been glad to get at least that fact straightened out!  Now the next step is to meet with the surgeon (Dr. Davidson) and I was fortunate enough to get an appointment for this coming Wednesday.  Less than a week away....woo-hoo!  I asked Dr. Wieger if he felt that the hope of having the surgery yet this year was a realistic one and he agreed that it most likely is possible.  I did hear the receptionist tell him that our insurance company has been running about two months out on processing approvals.  Guess once the paperwork is submitted to them, I will just have to pray it into getting in the system and being processed in a timely fashion!  Dr. Wieger did tell us that we had a green light on getting with our PCP to set up the gallstone ultrasound.  He said to wait a bit and then we could also schedule the appointment with the PCP for the medical clearance the weight loss clinic requires.  Overall, it seems like we are on our way towards having the surgery.  I certainly hope so as I went on a closet cleaning binge this past weekend and got rid of a good amount of clothes that I thought unlikely I would need between now and the end of the year!  How is that for confidence?!?!?

Tomorrow is our appointment with Dr. Wieger to discuss the surgery, pick the surgeon, etc.  It is one more step in many towards having the surgery.  I live in fear that although we were told our insurance company does not have prerequisites for the surgery that they will find some reason to deny it.  It would be heart breaking for either my husband or myself to be denied.  I can't imagine how the other one would feel...happy no doubt for the one approved but ugh...I don't even want to think about it!  I don't think the fear will leave until we both have our surgery dates!  Ok...well enough borrowing trouble for one day!  LOL!  It is amazing how we have begun to start thinking on the terms of "pre-op vs post op".  We read reviews tonight of the hospital we would be having the surgery at and we were relieved and excited to read all of the positive posts.  We are fortunate that they have their own bariatric wing and give very specialized care.  Well, it is amazing the amount of time that I have spent reading other's posts, etc so it is time to call it a night.  TTFN!

We went to our first support group meeting this evening.  I was so pleasantly surprised....everyone was so helpful and nice.  It was like there wasn't a stranger in the bunch!  It was nice to have face to face interaction with people that have had the surgery, are planning on having it, etc.  It was a very positive evening and I am so glad that I went.  Four more days and we meet with Dr. Wieger for the first time.

Here is a link to a video of a live bypass surgery taking place.   Personally I think I would have preferred to have visualized it on my own without this visual aid.  Be warned that although very informative it is graphic as well.
http://www.or-live.com/stlukes/1422/

The food diary was completed and back to the doctors office the day after it was completed.  September 14 is the next appointment and that is with Dr. Wieger.  I believe it is to discuss the surgery procedure and to select the surgeon.  I am excited but it feels like the 14th will never get here.  We had a grand daughter born this week so one more reason to a long list of many others, for having this surgery.  An aquaintance who had the surgery five years ago said that she gained back 75 pounds of the 200 that she lost.  She said that it is normal to gain back 15 to 20% of the weight back.  I never heard this before and while I admit that overall it is still a loss and a substancial one, I am not in this to gain back anything that I would be so lucky to lose!  Has anyone ever heard this before about a gain of weight being normal?  I have been spending a lot of time reading people's stories and I find it all so interesting.  What a great forum this is proving to be for information.

Hmmmm...OH shows my BMI as 42.4 whereas the WLC has it at 50.0.  I wonder why the difference....??

Beginning Weight	287
Surgery 11/02/2007	282
Discharge11/5/2007	298
11/11/2007	278.7	-9
11/12/2007	278.2	-9
11/13/2007	276	-11
11/14/2007	275.4	-11.6	*Dr's office shows a 4.6 lb greater loss
11/15/2007	273.8	-13.2
11/16/2007	273.4	-13.6
11/17/2007	271.2	-15.8
11/18/2007	269.8	-17.2
11/19/2007	265	-22
11/20/2007	263.8	-23.2
11/21/2007	263.4	-23.6

This morning when I weighed in I was happy to see that I have gone from  "morbidly obese" to "obese".  Well, ok maybe I do need another .8 of a pound loss but close enough!  I was pretty excited about that!  Woo-hoo!

Tomorrow I am returning to work 1/2 days.  I am going to be working 7-11:30 Monday thru Wednesday and then off again until Monday after the holiday.  It should work out just right tomorrow in that as I am getting off work, Dave should be ready to be released from the hospital and I can swing by and get him when I get off work.  It is a little scary going back to work because of trying to fall back into the status of where everything is at now but I think I am up for it.  I will be leaving at lunch time so I have another week yet before I have to deal with the whole lunch scene at work. 

Dave was pretty much out of it most of yesterday.  I did manage to get him to get out of bed a few times to walk.  (the hospital staff contrary to what we were told do not seem to emphasise this)  It was a loooooong day for me sitting there from 12-8 watching him doze on and off most of the day.  It wouldn't have been so bad but the chair in the room was just plain awful....the back only went as high as your lower back and it was too small in reality for me and well, just plain uncomfortable.  Dave was hot so I had taken a fan in to him and while he was sweating I was freezing..lol!  I am pretty sure that my body decided it was going to hang on to every ounce of fat that it could in order to store body heat!  When I got home I couldn't get in a hot shower fast enough and then I went to bed.  Earliest I have been in bed in a long time!  I don't understand how I could be so tired from just sitting all day!  On a positive note, I have no problem getting in my fluids and protein right now because all there is to do is sit and sip while at the hospital!  LOL!

Dave did call first thing this morning and he had already been up some as well as had done the dye test.  Then he said he went for a long walk.  He has some soreness in his shoulder and side but is feeling better.  He had issues yesterday with feeling nauseous but it seemed to have subsided by evening.  

I am going today to see him from 12-8 and then like I said, hopefully bringing him home tomorrow.  Have a great Sunday everyone and "Go Cowboys"! 

Beginning Weight	287
Surgery 11/02/2007	282
Discharge11/5/2007	298
11/11/2007	278.7	-9
11/12/2007	278.2	-9
11/13/2007	276	-11
11/14/2007	275.4	-11.6	*Dr's office shows a 4.6 lb greater loss
11/15/2007	273.8	-13.2
11/16/2007	273.4	-13.6
11/17/2007	271.2	-15.8
11/18/2007	269.8	-17.2
11/19/2007	265	-22