C. Reed
2 more weeks to go! Am so excited, but getting nervous!!!!!!!!
Apr 11, 2007
Other than that, I have most of my other things that I needed to do done. Will be going to AMC next week for my Pre-op and surgery consultation appts. I am so ready for these next 2 appts, and am SOOO ready to get the surgery. I have waited for so long for my BIG DAY to come and now it is nearly here. Keep posted and I will update again after my next appt at AMC!!
First April Update! My BIG MONTH has arrived!! 3 weeks to go!
Apr 05, 2007
Surgery in one month and counting!!!
Mar 26, 2007
OMG, Surgery is only about one month away......
Mar 23, 2007
My appt with the dietician on March 20th went very well. She is such a nice lady. See my story for more on what happened that day. I will update again after my April 5th appt. with my Endocrine NP in Syracuse. Keep posted for more updates!!!
Appointment Change...
Mar 12, 2007
Just got word that my dietary appointment scheduled for tomorrow(March 13th) is changed to March 20th due to a new dietician coming in to AMC's bariatric department. Thank god I called to check to see if my appointment was still on!! I bet they tried to call me though, they are great at returning phone calls and reminding you of appointments. Probably the internet was on and they got the BEEP BEEP BEEP signal... LOL!!
Am still doing well with my dietary and exercise. My weight is back down to where I was when I visited the center in February. Have to keep it up though and I should be ok for my next visit. Keep posted for another update soon!
Preparation Items for before, during, and after my BIG DAY!!!
Mar 04, 2007
Items before day of surgery:
1.) 2 bottles of Fleet Phospho-Soda: Check!
2.) Antibiotics that are required before the surgery-Check!
3.) Instructions for Bowel Prep- Check! Not looking forward to doing this part of the process!!! LOL!!
4.) Pre-admission meeting instrutions(for what I have to do when I get to the hospital for the meeting) and surgery date confirmation letter. Check!
Hospital Items: Will be packing this WEEK! (4-8-07 thru 4-15-07)!!!
1.) Slippers-Packed for the hospital!
2.) Chapstick- Packed for the hospital!
3.) Pillow-taking one of my own that is not too flat! LOL!
4.) Barbara Thompsons WLS Book and WLS for Dummies book! Packed for the hospital!
5.)Suduko Books and Pencils + pens!- Packed!
6.)My personal notebook(the one I have used for this whole process)- Packed!
7.) Alarm Clock(watch)- Packed!
8.) Loose Fitting Clothes- Packed!
-underwear, t-shirts, socks, pj's, etc.
9.) Toiletry Items- shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shaving cream + shaver, hairbrush, etc. Mostly packed, but still have a couple things to put in my bag!
10.)Body Pillow- Packed!
11.)My own blanket- Packed!
12.)Wallet and Insurance card- Packed!
13.)Currently prescribed endocrine medications- Packed! Have one that needs refrigeration, but was told I could skip it during my hospital stay.
14.) Camera-Mother and Father are taking the Digital Camera, so I am relying on them to bring it!!
15.) Journal for writing things in about my experience. Check and packed for the hospital.
16.) Phone Card for Calling relatives to let them know how I make out. Packed!
Lots of good luck wishes!!
Post-Surgery Items:
1.)Sugar-Free Jello: check!
2.)Sugar Free/Fat Free Pudding: Check!
**3.)Sugar Free Popsicles- Will get at least 2 more boxes.
4a.)Eating Well After WLS (Cookbook)- Check!
4b.) Recipes for Life After Weight Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes For Nourishing the New You. Check(New Book I just got).
*5.)Yogurt-Dannon Light & Fit Sugar and Carb Control... Still have to get some of this.
6.)Chicken and/or Beef Broth- Check!!
7.)Unjury Unflavored Protein Supplements: Check!
8.) GNC Pro Performance Chocolate and Vanilla Protein Powder- Check!
9.)Iron Supplement- Still need this, but Dr. Hill will give me a prescription for this while in the hospital.
10.) Crystal Light Drink Mix- Check!
11.) Chewable Vitamin C-Check! Got one that is much better tasting!! LOL... Spring Valley brand chewable orange juice flavor...
12.) Viactiv Soft Chews- Calcium Supplement: Check! Raspberry and Carmel flavors... Not too bad tasting.
13.)B-12 Supplement- Check, have the 1000mcg type (Spring Valley brand). Bariatric Center suggests 500 mcg, so I am going to ask them about the one that I have. NOTE: I Just got another B-12 vitamin that a Subliguinal B-12 supplement in a liquid form(1,200mcg of Vitamin B-12) (Spring Valley Brand also).
14.) Multivitamin- Check! I am using the Flintstones chewable multivitamin gummies! YUMMY! LOL!!
FOR STAGE 4 of Post-op Diet:
*15.) Applesauce, baby foods(mabye), cheese sticks, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, canned tuna fish, cream soups(if I can tolerate them), soups that can be pureed, etc. etc... Still need to get these, and will add more as I go!!
Lots of TLC!! lol... I already have this thanks to my wonderful mother and father!
*-Highlighted TEAL Items are the ones that I either NEED!
**-Highlighted RED means I have this, but need more for after surgery!
MORE ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO MY LIST IF I THINK OF ANY!!
Anything that is packed and ready to go to AMC on the 26th of April will be highlighted with this color.
2 months and counting!
Feb 25, 2007
In 2 more months I wil be a loser! Yahoo! It is hard to believe that I have my date and this is actually GOING to happen and SO soon! It is still sinking in that this is the last year that I will be considered SMO or even MO. I am so excited and nervous about getting my surgery!
I am still doing good, even though I did have a small gain this week I think from what my scales are telling me! OUCH! I will have to work extra hard this week and next week to get the weight back down before visiting the dietician. I will post another update again soon!
IT'S OFFICIAL... I HAVE MY SURGERY DATE!!!!
Feb 20, 2007
Well, I got my surgery date scheduled today at my 4 month(actually 5 month from what they said) visit with the bariatric center at AMC. April 26th 2007 is my BIG DAY!! I am so excited, but then again now am REALLY nervous too! Now I have to get myself prepared for the big day to arrive! I can't wait! YAHOO!! Keep posted for more updates!
Timeline of events....
Oct 31, 2006
Here is a timeline of the different events that have happened so far in my journey and upcoming events. SEE "My Story" FOR MORE ON THESE. Will update this as I go!!
COMPLETED EVENTS:
08/01/06-Made the BIG decision to go through with my plan of getting surgery for Morbid Obesity.
08/15/06- Met with my dietician for follow-up of my current diet "plan" .
8/29/06- Met with my NEW PCP (Samantha Ludwig).
9/12/06- Informational Meeting at AMC.
9/18/06- Sent in paperwork, and called AMC to set up initial Appt.
10/05/06- JOURNEY BEGINS!!!!! Initial Appt.(1st month) with Karen(NP) and Edward Hixon(Bariatric Program Director).
10/25/06- Possible Stress Test and Consultation Visit with Cardiologist(Dr. Vojtech Slezka) at EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur. Hope to recieve cardiac clearance for surgery at this visit.
10/31/06- Mental Health Evaluation at Samaritan Behavioral Services in Watertown. Meet with Dr. Richard Oman. Glad to get this over with!!!! Ha!
11/07/06- Testing At AMC.
7am-Bloodwork(LOTS of it too!!!!) and Urinalysis
8am- Gallbladder Ultrasound
(8:30am Approx.-follows gallbladder U/S) Chest X-ray
9am- PT evaluation ( Met with Donna)
10am- Dietary Evaluation (Beth Morgan)
11am- PFT
Rest of Day- RELAX!! LOL!! GO VOTE IF NOT TOO TIRED!! :)
11/09/06- Meet with Pediatric Endocrine NP at Syracuse(Upstate Medical Center) for 6 month checkup. Have bloodwork on this day too so that is twice in a week. Not to worry, I am used to getting poked!! LOL!! UPDATE: Meeting went really well...(SEE BELOW!!)
11/16/06- 2 month pre-op appointment with Dr. Hixon at AMC Bariatric Center.
11/23/06- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
11/24/06-Sleep study and CPAP Titration at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Have to be there for my 8pm appointment.(Confirmed it on Wednesday 11/22/06!!)
12/5/06- Part 1 of Nuclear Stress Test (Resting Images)
12/8/06- Part 2 of Nuclear Stress Test. (Stress Images)
12/12/06- My 3 month pre-op visit with Karen Hixon(either her or Dr. Hixon will do- just a follow-up meeting).
12/25/06- MERRY CHRISTMAS
1/1/07- Happy New Year!!!
1/4/07- Meeting with Samantha Ludwig (My PCP)
1/9/07- Meeting with Beth Morgan(Nutritionist at AMC).
1/18/07- My 4 month pre-op visit with Dr. Hixon.
2/20/07- My 5 month pre-op visit with Karen Hixon.
2/20/07- Surgery date scheduled.
3/20/07- Meeting with a new nutritionist at AMC. Her name was Elizabeth Delisle... See below for update(my story).
4/5/07- Check-Up visit with Susan Shaw (My Pediatric Endocrine NP) in Syracuse.
4/8/07- Happy Easter!!!!!
4/18/07- Pre-admission Meeting at AMC. Meeting is at 10am. Must be at AMC between 8:45-9am.
4/18/07- Surgery consultation meeting with Dr. Hill(My Surgeon). Meet with him at 1pm.
4/25/07- Prep day:
12(noon)- Have to take 1 bottle fleet phospho soda
1pm, 2pm, and 4pm- take antibiotics(Erythromycin and Neomycin).
7pm- Have to take 1 more bottle of fleet phospho soda.
UPDATE: Got quite a suprise on this prep, Really was not as bad as I thought it was going to be...lol... Of course I had to make a big deal out of nothing... LOL!!! Stay tuned for more info coming next week!
4/26/07- MY NEW BEGINNING!! SURGERY DAY AT ADIRONDACK MEDICAL CENTER IN SARANAC LAKE!! UPDATED: 4/25/07 at 9pm. My OFFICIAL time to be at AMC for my surgery is 6:50am. I am the first surgery of the day!! YAHOO!! I can't wait to get it over with and be on the losing side of this journey! Stay tuned to hear how my surgery went next week!!!
5/8/07- POST-OP support group meeting at AMC. 6 Pm meeting.
5/09/07-2 week post-op follow-up appointment with Dr. Hill. Update on my visit: -20 lbs WHOO HOO!!!!
5/31/07-1 month follow-up with Dietician at AMC.
6/6/07- 6 Week Post-Op Follow-Up visit with Dr. Hill.
6/12/07- POST-OP Support Group Meeting at AMC. 6pm meeting.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
7/9/2007- Visit with my new PCP. New PCP is Timothy Moon, DO(Family Practice). Appt. is at 10am.
7/10/07- POST-OP Support Group Meeting at AMC. 6pm Meeting.
8/8/07- 3 month post-op follow-up appt with Dr. Hill. Meet with him at 1:15pm.
8/14/07- POST-OP support group meeting at AMC. 6pm meeting.
9/13/07-Next scheduled visit with Susan Shaw. Appt. is at 9:30am. Also scheduled for a DEXA(bone density) scan at 11:15am.
TBD- 6 month post-op follow-up appt.
TBD- 1 year post-op follow-up appt.
TBD- 18 month post-op follow-up appt.
TBD- 2 year post op follow-up appt. Will be yearly check-ups after this visit! Keep posted for more updates!
(Pre-op)Starting Weight, Surgery weight, and Post-Op weights..
Oct 19, 2006
START DATE: 10/05/06- 309.8lbs
Surgery Weight- 303.9 lbs/ -5.9 lbs pre-op
POST-OP weights:
1 Week -288lbs/ -15.9lbs/ -21.8 lbs TOTAL SO FAR(inc. Pre op weight loss)
2 Weeks- 284lbs/ -4lbs/-25.8lbs so far (inc. pre-op)
3 Weeks-274lbs/ -10lbs/-35.8 lbs so far(inc. Pre-Op)
1 Month(6 weeks)-268.3 lbs/ -5.7lbs/ 41.5 lbs so far(Inc. Pre-Op)
2 Months-???lbs/ -???lbs
3 Months-???lbs/ -???lbs
6 Months-???lbs/ -???/bs
1 Year-???lbs/ -???lbs
18 Months- ???/-??? lbs
2 years- ???lbs/ -??? lbs
MY PERSONAL GOAL WEIGHT: 150
Ideal Weight(Dr.'s Goal- 140lbs)
