 
Mother of 3 small boys, and married to the love of my life. I am 32. Have been 100+ pounds overweight for almost 10 years, have fought long and hard, Optifast, weight watches several times, going to the gym, Atkins, Physician supervised, nutritionists, etc. Its time to make a permanent change. Have my consult scheduled, paperwork in order, all set to have a surgery date scheduled. My BCBS doesnt pre approve so I do not have to wait for the insurnace approval process.
Had my psych eval end of July 2001. That went well and I got the results back and he has recommended me for wls!
Attended my first weight loss surgery support group(8-13-01) that was great, met lots of nice people and how fun to see such great successes knowing someday I will be there too!
My surgeon consult date is December 6, 2001. It seems so far off, then to have to wait for a surgery date. I would not choose any other surgeon so I guess i have to wait. Hopefully the time will go by quickly, I'm so ready.
My consult has been moved up. Hooray! It will be November 8th! I can't wait!
10-8-01
Went to another support group meeting. Dr. Scholten was there tonight and it was wonderful to hear him talk. He is so geniune and I am ver yreassured by his knowledge, and all of his accomplishments over the years. I feel safe in his care and that means the world to me. I have a sister who had surgery with him almost a year ago and is doing fabulous. My consult is a month away and from what I have been told surgery will be just a few short weeks after that. Possibly end of November, beginning of December. I am so ready and so surprised I feel so good about it. There once was a day that I said no way would I do wls. Well, the time has come for me. :0)
10-18-01
My consult was moved up to 11-1-01, yea! Originally it was set for Jan 2002, so I am pretty happy. I asked how soon after the consult would my surgery be and they said within the month. I am so ready. My little sister got married last weekend and I felt huge in my bridesmaids dress. I was huge! I knew tho and kept telling myself this is the last time you have to be on public display with all those eyes staring at you wondering how did she ever get so big! Not to mention how incredibly exhausted I was from wearing 3" high heels all day. It took me 2 days just torecover from it, I know it because I am hauling around so much weight. I can't wait to be on the other side. I'm soo ready!
10-23-01
My consult date has been moved up again, to tomarrow!! I hope I will have a surgery date soon to announce, I am so excited and a bit nervous! Wish me luck!
11-06-01
I have it, my surgery date, yippee!!!! It is scheduled for December 4, 2001, 11 am. I will be having the open RNY procedure. I have looked into the lap procedure and am a candidate for it but the first available date was the end of december and I am done waiting!! 4 weeks from today and I will start a new me!! I am so excited! I am surprised i actually feel a little bit less anxious, I guess just confirming it and having it in stone takes some of the pressure off. I have my pre op scheduled for 11-21, day before thanksgiving. I will do all my pre op stuff in one day, one trip to Grand Rapids, since I live 3 hours away. I'll post more as we go along. God Bless!
11-08-01
Had an appointment with my primary. I have had terrible ovualtion pain for several months now, so Im going to have an ultrasound to look at my ovaries. I hope its nothing, but when doing a palpation exam on me, I was sensitive and flinched. It is tender in that area. I pray its something that doesnt hold up my surgery.
I scheduled my chest xray, gallbladder ultrasound and ekg for the same day next week. Then the following week I go to Grand Rapids for my pre op appointment , which entails getting fitted for my binder, signing tons of forms, meeting with the dietician, and getting an upper GI.
Whew!
I just thought I would share all of this in case someone who is on the beginning stages wondered what all takes place thru the process. I have found so many of these journals helpful and hope this one will be too.
I have started on a reduced diet, added protein supplements for about a week now. I am supposed to lose 10 pounds by my preop date, no problem I am already half way there. I also have been walking 30-40 minutes a day. I am so excited, there is a thin, healthy, active person inside me waiting to come out. I already told my husband(who is extremly athletic) that I want to do our local mountain bike race next fall, its called "The Ice Man" That is my first goal. I have always wanted to do it! I think it will be reality soon. It is a 27 mile race, single track thru the woods. I get so excited just thinking about it. So keep reading ,someday I will post that I did it!
11-16-01
I had my EKG, Gallbladder Ultrasound, and Chest Xray today. It went relatively quickly and was painless. One day of testing down, one more to go in just 4 short days, then the count down to surgery day begins. I have been eating to much the past 3-4 days, dont know why, I just hope I am close to the weight loss my surgeon wants to see. I'll post again soon!
11-26-01
Hi! Well, I am down to the wire now. My surgery is in 8 short days!! I went to Grand Rapids last tuesday and spent the night in the hospitality house at Spectrum Health. This is where my husband will be staying while I am in the hospital. It is so nice and comfy. I am finished with all my pre op testing. I had my dietary consult, met with Dr. Scholtens nurse Mary Kay for final instructions, etc. Had lab work done, weight measured, down 6 pounds, yeah! Had my binder fitted, prescriptions given and then had the dreaded Upper Gi scope. Guess what it wasnt bad at all! I dont remember a thing. All I remember was looking up at Dr. Scholten while he was putting the demerol and versed in my Iv, I remember saying wow, and the next thing I new I was talking to my husband and the nurses were telling me it was time to go home. Piece of cake.
The one thing that has had me most concerned about surgery is going to sleep, being sedated and not knowing what was going on. That may sound strange to some, but I have never had surgery of any kind and being unconscious just seems very strange to me. I actually am glad I had the upper GI because it calmed my fears. I loved the feeling of going bye bye! I just know that next time I wake up I will be hurting! Thats what I am not looking forward to!! Oh well, I have felt pain exquisitly before, I know I can handle this and just the thought of being on the losing side is mind baffling in itself. Does anyone ever believe that its a trick and you really wont lose weight. I have a hard time believing I am not going to be 275 pounds for the rest of my life. All I need to do is get my post op groceries, my prescriptions filled and clean my house top to bottom, my hubby isnt the greatest at cleaning and I think he will have his hands full with my 2 little ones. Well, I will post one more time before I leave next monday for Grand Rapids. Until then....
11-28-01
Hi. Well, I am so upset. I found out yesterday from my primary doctor that my EKG shows I have had a mild (silent) heart attack. From the EKG he cant tell when or if it was even just one. I am supposed to be having my surgery in 6 days.:0(
I am going to see a cardiologist tomarrow for an echocardiogram and a stress test, etc to see waht damage was done and if I can handle surgery. I am so upset. I am only 32 years old. I am healthy in so many aspects. I dont have diabetes, or high blood pressure, I am obese, and that I guess is probably enough. I am disappointed that my surgery might be cancelled, but even more dissapointed that I have had a heart attack at 32. Anyone else out there that this has happened to? I need some words of erncouragement from someone who has gone thru this too. I will update after my appointment tomarrow.
11-29-01
Great News, I went to see the cardiologist and he cleared me for surgery!!! I am going to call my surgeons office tommarrow to make sure everything is still on. I went to see the cardiologist today at 1:30 pm. He was wonderful. His name is Dr. Mark Elliot if anyone in this area ever needs one. Right off the bat he said he had a hard time believing that I have had a heart attack. Becasue of my age, and because my profile looks so healthy. He examined me, asked lots of questions, then said well, we have to do some sort of test to make sure your heart is fine. He decided on an echocardiogram/stress test. He did it right there in his office(with a little prompting beacuse of my surgery date 5 days away). They took pictures of my heart at rest then made me walk until my heart was at 100% max, which was 180 beats a minute, then I jumped off the table and they took more pictures of my heart beating that fast. He said everything looks great. He said my heart is strong and healthy and shows no signs of a heart attack or any sign of damage. I told him about the palpatations I have been having since spring and he didnt seem concerned. Funny tho, I have had a funny rythm today since I got home from the test. Im trying not to let it bother me. Well, looks like I start packing and stuff, my turn is just around the corner. Caio for now
11-30-01
Hi. I Just got home from a night out with my best girlfriend. We went to a local hang out and had a few drinks and dinner. It was fun and we talked about the surgery, life and having faith in God that everyhitng will be just fine. She admitted to me that she is scared and I reassured her that everything will be just fine. Its funny that I am the one reassuring people, and for the most part it doesnt scare me to do it or make me feel like they should be doing it for me. I am content. One thing tho that I have to pass on. We were leaving the restaurant/bar and walking out the door when a girl bumped into me. She made some smart remark I didnt understand then called me "fat ass". Any other day it would of bothered me, but today I just thought yep, I am but soon I will not be, and I dont have to listen to this crap any more. Anyhow, I am off to bed to snuggle with the man that loves and adores, me even at 274 pounds!!!! Goodnight.
12-3-01
Hello. Well this is my last post until I am on the losing side. I am packing, cleaning making phone calls, etc. I did write one letter to my husband, that was all I could do. It was so hard, so emotional. I hope he never has to read it. I am nervous, but excited at the prospect of a whole new life. I am so ready for this. I had a melt down with my husband last night, he is so good to me. I am so glad I have him, I couldnt ask for better support. My kids mean the wrold to me and I have been huggin them lots of the weekend. They are too little to really understand that I am going to have an operation, they are just excited to get to go to their grandparents, and my sisters for the week!! I am only suppossed to have clear liquids today, It doesnt even bother me yet anyhow! Well, I will post as soon as I am able. Adios!
12-5-01
Hi! Well, I am home. No, I did not have my surgery! I was on the operating table ready to go under and I found out from a blood test that morning that I am PREGNANT. I went thru the full range of emotions. I cried, I was mad, I was disappointed, frustrated, emareesed, etc. Well, it is 24 hours later and I know this pregnancy was meant to be. It is a smal miracle as my husband and I havent been to active this month and we use protection. A suprise for sure! Well.... it is not my turnm it will be someday for now I have to concentrate on growing this baby. God bless you all.
5-8-2003
Hello! I just read thru all the prior info. Seems like so long ago. Well, I went on to have a healthy baby boy. He is 9 months old now and I am on the road to surgery once again. I have my consult in June. I won't have to jump thru all the hoops again, just need to get a check up and clearance form my heart doc. I am hoping for an August surgery date. I am currently at 269 lbs.
6-19-03
weight : 277
Well, I am getting excited! I went to see Dr. Scholten yesterday and got the all clear, I don't have to do all the pre- op stuff again. Thank God! So, I call in next wednesday June 25th for my surgery date. I am in school right now and am hoping for an early August surgery date- between semesters. I will update when I get a date! YAHOO!!
SURGERY DATE FINALLY!!!
June 25, 2003
I am scheduled for surgery July 30th, 2003. I am so thrilled! I have to get an updated EKG, chest xray and blood work, but other than that I am ready to go! Only 5 weeks to go. I am nervous about leaving my baby tho he will be 1 on August 2. He is a breastfed baby and still nurses several times a day! I was told by my surgeon if I got up and at it after surgery I only had to stay 2 days, so that is my goal. I would appreciate any prayers for the baby and me! Thanks!
June 27, 2003
Just have to say that I am so nervous. I think the thought of leaving my baby is the hardest. He is still breastfeeding an awful lot and I am just worried he will really be upset without me for a day or 2. I think we are taking him with us and he will be brought to me to nurse after the first 24 hrs. I hope that works. Please say a prayer for me. Thanks!
July 16, 2003
2 weeks and counting! I have so much to do before then. I am taking 2 classes this summer and have to finish them bofre then! YIKES. I am still a bit nervous asbout my baby but have a plan, I hope it works. Someone pointed out to me the other day that I won't know if things go well or not and won't care for at least the first 24 hrs, I will be so drugged. That sounded ok. :0) I know it is going to be tought but I can do it, right? Looking forward to being on the other side, wish me well!
August 1, 2003
I am officially POST OP!!!! I am so happy. I came home today, surgery was on wed, July 30th. Everything went really well. Dr. Scholten had my surgery done in under an hour! Recovery so far has been pretty good. I remember feeling pain when I woke up just after surgery but then everything went blank again. When I went down for my leak test it had been to long since I hit my morphine pump and then I was left unplugged, unattended for about 30 min. in the hallway, needless to say when I got back, I was in pain. I was not happy. Other than that all was/ is well. The lortab elixir works great for me. I am having lots of gas, it isnt too painful, I just get up and move around.
My official surgery day weight was 270.6
I will try to keep this update, I loved reading others while I was preparing for surgery. I just want to add, Dr. Scholten is wonderful, it was comforting to me to know I was in such good hands.
August 7th, 2003
8 days Post-Op
weight : 262
Well- what a week I have had. Not too fun. I have a history of atrial fibulation and over the weekend I starting feeling it coming on and increasing in intensity. By sunday evening I blacked out 4 times and felt like I was dying I was so weak. My hubby called an ambulance and I have been in the hospital ever since. I came home today, thank goodness. It was a long , tough, depressing week and I am so glad to be home. My incision feels good, I am not taking pain meds anymore. As far as the diet, well, I don't like all the nutrasweet, never have and I am certain my body doesnt either. I got to add yogurt and pudding to my diet yesterday but am having a hard time with all the cows milk- I am so lactose intolerant. I am so looking forward to the days of better nutrition. My doctors are pretty certain my heart wigged out because my electrolytes were all out of whack from the surgery. My potassium was very, very low , magnesium and a couple of other things too. When I went to the E.R my heart was beating 220 beats a minute. I was terrified. I feel alot better but am on a bunch of medication now and hate that. The GOOD NEWS, I now weigh 262, I have lost 8 pounds in just over a week. Hooray!! I am ready to try some different protein drinks, the one I am using I am so sick of. So, off to vitalady.com I go. I will post soon.
August 14, 2003
2 weeks post op
Weight: 254
UPDATE: Had my two week check up today. It was a long day for me. Dr. Scholten said things look great, I can start exercising! Still on liquids, can't wait for soft foods, starting next week. I was happy to see my weight loss, -16 pounds since surgery and -23 since my pre op visit!! I'll take it!! I am feeling stronger everyday, thank goodness. Have occassional incision pain, usually at the end of the day, from fatigue I am guessing. I also have had some cramps in my ribs, but am sure that is from surgery. My heart is doing fine, no episodes since a week ago sunday! I am excited about losing, finally, I don't care how fast either, just as long as the scale keeps going down. I am staying faithful in my protein drinks and water/tea. I seem to handle water better if I have just a touch of tea mixed in it. I am looking forward to trying some eggs and cottage cheese next week, just for some variety! I am feeling good and am so happy already, just 2 weeks out!
UPDATE:
3 Weeks Post Op
Weight 247
Just a quick update! I am feeling stronger everyday. Some days a re better than others. Yesterday I had a terrible tummy ache and finally it passed with a nice bm. Sorry! I am finding I only have them about every 2-3 days, which is unusal for me so I think this is just my body getting used to all the changes. I can officially try eggs and cottage cheese, but am very nervous to. I rely mainly on my protein drinks and yogurt. Sometimes I have soup. I am finally able to tolerate water, I was mixing a little tea in, but miss my water. I am thirsty all the time! I sip constantly and still feel like I am not getting enough in. Perhaps its because I am still nursing too. Most people think I am nuts for still nursing while I am practically starving. But I know of a few who have successfully nursed after surgery and thats what my baby wants, so that is what he will get. I miss some foods, pizza is one for sure! I have a picnic to attend this evening, potluck! I am sure everything will look delectable. But hey, thats ok, I am on my way to a slim new me! Ta ta for now.
UPDATE: Almost 7 weeks Post op
Weight: 236
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