2fluffy4now
I'm with the band
Sep 10, 2011
Sept. 10, 2011
Well, I made it! My Realize Band surgery was yesterday(Friday). The worst part was the medical staff trying to get an IV line in me. My veins are small and they roll. I had to be stuck 13 times before I finally ended up with the IV in the top of my foot. It was relocated to the top of my hand once I was under sedation. 4 nurses, my surgeon and the anesthesiologist all took turns trying to run a line. My surgery was scheduled for 10:30am, but, my roommate (who was having a port revision at 12:00noon) ended up getting my time slot because my IV still wasn't in at 11:00. So, I was given an Ativan to calm my frayed nerves & they wrapped my arms and feet in warmed blankets to try to plump up my veins. They took my roommate to surgery at 11:20. After she went to recovery, my anesthesiologist came back & got the line in my foot on the first try after that. Ugh......that was rough!!! All the staff was caring and kind though. They really felt bad that I had to go through all of that just to get an IV line. I finally got to surgery about 1:00 and lasted just over an hour. I was in recovery about 1 hour and then taken back to my room. I was so happy to see my husband and my mom waiting for me! (I really had myself scared that I wouldn't wake up from surgery.) At 3:00pm I was up to walk the halls and at 4:30pm I was released.
Recovering for the weekend at a nice hotel with my husband who is being very helpful. Slept well last night. I set my alarm for every 4 hours to take pain meds(liquid loratab). My husband has been nice enough to get up to measure the med for me so I could lay still. Today I have been thirsty but only able to tolerate about 1 ounce of water/broth every 15-20 minutes. I have gas pains that bubble up from the top part of my stomach to the center of my chest. The come on quickly and I have to stand up tall and walk while breathing deeply to get them to pass. I haven't eaten now for 48 hours.....and I haven't been even the slightest bit hungry since surgery......strange.
Well, its time to take more pain med and then go to bed.
Take care,
Amy
0 comments
Well, I made it! My Realize Band surgery was yesterday(Friday). The worst part was the medical staff trying to get an IV line in me. My veins are small and they roll. I had to be stuck 13 times before I finally ended up with the IV in the top of my foot. It was relocated to the top of my hand once I was under sedation. 4 nurses, my surgeon and the anesthesiologist all took turns trying to run a line. My surgery was scheduled for 10:30am, but, my roommate (who was having a port revision at 12:00noon) ended up getting my time slot because my IV still wasn't in at 11:00. So, I was given an Ativan to calm my frayed nerves & they wrapped my arms and feet in warmed blankets to try to plump up my veins. They took my roommate to surgery at 11:20. After she went to recovery, my anesthesiologist came back & got the line in my foot on the first try after that. Ugh......that was rough!!! All the staff was caring and kind though. They really felt bad that I had to go through all of that just to get an IV line. I finally got to surgery about 1:00 and lasted just over an hour. I was in recovery about 1 hour and then taken back to my room. I was so happy to see my husband and my mom waiting for me! (I really had myself scared that I wouldn't wake up from surgery.) At 3:00pm I was up to walk the halls and at 4:30pm I was released.
Recovering for the weekend at a nice hotel with my husband who is being very helpful. Slept well last night. I set my alarm for every 4 hours to take pain meds(liquid loratab). My husband has been nice enough to get up to measure the med for me so I could lay still. Today I have been thirsty but only able to tolerate about 1 ounce of water/broth every 15-20 minutes. I have gas pains that bubble up from the top part of my stomach to the center of my chest. The come on quickly and I have to stand up tall and walk while breathing deeply to get them to pass. I haven't eaten now for 48 hours.....and I haven't been even the slightest bit hungry since surgery......strange.
Well, its time to take more pain med and then go to bed.
Take care,
Amy
I've got a date!!!
Aug 29, 2011
August 29, 2011
Well, a lot had happened since March! I completed my 6 month supervised diet on July 22, 2011 at exactly the weight I needed to be in order to submit for insurance approval. I assumed it would go swiftly and be approved.......wrong!!! Health Alliance denied me for "Lack of Documentation" which absolutely floored me to say the least. I spent the better part of that day on the phone to my Dr.'s office and to Health Alliance trying to determine exactly what documentation they needed. Three weeks, tons of miscommunication and frustraion later, I submitted my appeal letter and a letter from my Dr. Apparently, my truly wonderful Health Alliance representative called my Dr's office and went over my appointments month by month and got everything straightened out because.......she called me to let me know I had been approved! Of course, I cried some happy tears!
I had my pre-op exam/appt 2 days after I received my approval and completed all my pre-op testing(blood work, EKG, chest x-rays) the day after that. Can you tell that I'm ready to get this show on the road??!!!
So, my surgery date is set for Fri. Sept. 9th. I have decided on the Realize Band. I began my 2 week pre-op diet on Aug 26th. Today is day 4 on the diet and it has been rough. I am very hungry and cranky. I'm allowed 2 protein shakes, 1 can of V-8, 1 protein snack bar, 1 Lean Cuisine and some veggies per day until surgery. It's supposed to be 800-1000 calories, 70-90 grams of protein and 70-80 grams of carb. I'll tell you one thing, it doesn't seem like enough cause I'm hungry...yea, I know, I already mentioned that, LOL!
Headed tomorrow to pick up items that I'll need post-surgery. I plan to be completely prepared so all I have to worry about is healing.
I'll be back in a day or so. See ya soon!
Amy
0 comments
Well, a lot had happened since March! I completed my 6 month supervised diet on July 22, 2011 at exactly the weight I needed to be in order to submit for insurance approval. I assumed it would go swiftly and be approved.......wrong!!! Health Alliance denied me for "Lack of Documentation" which absolutely floored me to say the least. I spent the better part of that day on the phone to my Dr.'s office and to Health Alliance trying to determine exactly what documentation they needed. Three weeks, tons of miscommunication and frustraion later, I submitted my appeal letter and a letter from my Dr. Apparently, my truly wonderful Health Alliance representative called my Dr's office and went over my appointments month by month and got everything straightened out because.......she called me to let me know I had been approved! Of course, I cried some happy tears!
I had my pre-op exam/appt 2 days after I received my approval and completed all my pre-op testing(blood work, EKG, chest x-rays) the day after that. Can you tell that I'm ready to get this show on the road??!!!
So, my surgery date is set for Fri. Sept. 9th. I have decided on the Realize Band. I began my 2 week pre-op diet on Aug 26th. Today is day 4 on the diet and it has been rough. I am very hungry and cranky. I'm allowed 2 protein shakes, 1 can of V-8, 1 protein snack bar, 1 Lean Cuisine and some veggies per day until surgery. It's supposed to be 800-1000 calories, 70-90 grams of protein and 70-80 grams of carb. I'll tell you one thing, it doesn't seem like enough cause I'm hungry...yea, I know, I already mentioned that, LOL!
Headed tomorrow to pick up items that I'll need post-surgery. I plan to be completely prepared so all I have to worry about is healing.
I'll be back in a day or so. See ya soon!
Amy
Oh my goodness....
Mar 19, 2011
Well, a few days ago, I had my Psych Eval. Oh my goodness, it was soooo much more nervewracking than I expected! I had an hour of talk counseling followed by a 299 question written true/false response test......and WOW, some of the questions on that test were really somewhere out there in left field! Now, I have to just wait and see the results of the written test, but, my Dr. said that he didn't expect anything to come out of the test that would keep me from proceeding with my surgery. He told me he thought I had a good grasp on what the surgery entailed and knew I wanted the surgery to get healthy for my family.
I am really trying to eat better but it is so hard because I get so completely ravenous and undo any good choices I have made. I have really got to get my head wrapped around the fact that I HAVE to lose 20 pounds BEFORE July 11, 2011! I guess I have always been a procrastinator and now is the time to get my ass in gear......just wish I knew how. It feels like since I finally have ins that will pay for the surgery and it finally really is a possibility that I can have it, I have just given up trying to lose on my own. I mean, I have been trying to lose weight since 6th grade!.....isn't 26 years long enough to show that I JUST CAN'T DO IT MYSELF?!!!
I had this ephipany this week and called my family Dr. to call a dietician and make an appointment for me. Hopefully I'll get a call next week with an appointment date.
1 comment
I am really trying to eat better but it is so hard because I get so completely ravenous and undo any good choices I have made. I have really got to get my head wrapped around the fact that I HAVE to lose 20 pounds BEFORE July 11, 2011! I guess I have always been a procrastinator and now is the time to get my ass in gear......just wish I knew how. It feels like since I finally have ins that will pay for the surgery and it finally really is a possibility that I can have it, I have just given up trying to lose on my own. I mean, I have been trying to lose weight since 6th grade!.....isn't 26 years long enough to show that I JUST CAN'T DO IT MYSELF?!!!
I had this ephipany this week and called my family Dr. to call a dietician and make an appointment for me. Hopefully I'll get a call next week with an appointment date.
Here we go! (Jan/Feb 2011)
Mar 04, 2011
This is my first ever blog so here we go!
Hi everyone, my name is Amy, I'm 38, married w/ 3 kids & I live in Central Illinois. I was always a bit overweight as a kid and thru high school but nothing major. I have been gaining weight since college and now it is really affecting my health. I now have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and a whole host of aches and pains. I have been contemplating WLS for probably 5 years now, but, up until this year, I did not have insurance that covered it. (Sidenote: Wal-Mart's employee insurance sucks!) Anyway, as soon as I found out my new ins(Health Alliance) offers WLS coverage, I was on the phone setting up Dr. appts!
My ins requires the 6 month physician supervised weight loss period. I began my initial visit on Jan. 11, 2011 with a weight of 279 lbs. On Feb. 28, 2011, I had my 1 month(actually longer than a month b/c of of available appts) follow-up....weighing in at 284
!!!!! Ok, I'll admit I hadn't put my nose to the grindstone with the whole diet process yet, but, I also was on Prednisone and several rounds of antibiotics during that time too for a nasty case of bronchitis and pleurisy. I am guessing that had something to do with the gain. My Dr. also put me on cholesterol meds at this appt.
I thought I had decided on the Lap-Band surgery with Dr. Sidney Rohrscheib in Champaign, IL, but, now I'm not sure! My best friend from grade school had the band in Mar. 2010 With Dr. R and has lost over 100lbs and looks fabulous, but she does not eat healhfully at all. I am not sure I trust myself with the band...its too easy to eat candy and ice cream and all those things that got me to where I am in the first place! So, I am going to also explore the RNY option at Carle Hospital in Champaign. Although the RNY scares the pants off me as far as the more invasive nature of the surgery and just the idea that my insides would actually be altered...kinda freaks me out. I'm also concerned about becoming too thin after RNY. I want to have a curvy womanly figure as my "after" and the Lap-Band would allow me to stop losing at a point in which I feel comfortable in my own skin. So much to think about. Not sure which route I'm going to take at this point.
My next hurdle is the psych eval also required by my ins. That appt is Mar. 16. I really don't know what to expect but it is supposed to be a 50 min written test followed by 50 minutes of interview. Sort of daunting but I have seen this Dr. before and trust him and feel somewhat relaxed with him. I'll post after I have that under my belt.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone with a projected Aug. 2011 surgery date or anyone with a similar situaltion.
0 comments
Hi everyone, my name is Amy, I'm 38, married w/ 3 kids & I live in Central Illinois. I was always a bit overweight as a kid and thru high school but nothing major. I have been gaining weight since college and now it is really affecting my health. I now have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and a whole host of aches and pains. I have been contemplating WLS for probably 5 years now, but, up until this year, I did not have insurance that covered it. (Sidenote: Wal-Mart's employee insurance sucks!) Anyway, as soon as I found out my new ins(Health Alliance) offers WLS coverage, I was on the phone setting up Dr. appts!
My ins requires the 6 month physician supervised weight loss period. I began my initial visit on Jan. 11, 2011 with a weight of 279 lbs. On Feb. 28, 2011, I had my 1 month(actually longer than a month b/c of of available appts) follow-up....weighing in at 284
!!!!! Ok, I'll admit I hadn't put my nose to the grindstone with the whole diet process yet, but, I also was on Prednisone and several rounds of antibiotics during that time too for a nasty case of bronchitis and pleurisy. I am guessing that had something to do with the gain. My Dr. also put me on cholesterol meds at this appt.I thought I had decided on the Lap-Band surgery with Dr. Sidney Rohrscheib in Champaign, IL, but, now I'm not sure! My best friend from grade school had the band in Mar. 2010 With Dr. R and has lost over 100lbs and looks fabulous, but she does not eat healhfully at all. I am not sure I trust myself with the band...its too easy to eat candy and ice cream and all those things that got me to where I am in the first place! So, I am going to also explore the RNY option at Carle Hospital in Champaign. Although the RNY scares the pants off me as far as the more invasive nature of the surgery and just the idea that my insides would actually be altered...kinda freaks me out. I'm also concerned about becoming too thin after RNY. I want to have a curvy womanly figure as my "after" and the Lap-Band would allow me to stop losing at a point in which I feel comfortable in my own skin. So much to think about. Not sure which route I'm going to take at this point.
My next hurdle is the psych eval also required by my ins. That appt is Mar. 16. I really don't know what to expect but it is supposed to be a 50 min written test followed by 50 minutes of interview. Sort of daunting but I have seen this Dr. before and trust him and feel somewhat relaxed with him. I'll post after I have that under my belt.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone with a projected Aug. 2011 surgery date or anyone with a similar situaltion.
About Me
Central Illinois, IL
Location
38.2
BMI
Surgery
09/09/2011
Surgery Date
Feb 24, 2011
Member Since