25 Days post-op!

Feb 22, 2009

Gerald was generous enough to take pictures today and do a pictorial montage (see it here at my blog:  parhamgirl.blogspot.com/). It shows my pre-op picture and me today. I guess I don't smile very big, but maybe it will get better as I go. I'm certainly not frowning like I was pre-op though!

We also took measurements today. I know it's not my 1 month surgiversary yet, but my pre-op measurements were done on Jan. 19th. So these are about 1 month and 2 days out - especially since I'm guessing that my measurements didn't change appreciable before surgery. I've lost 21.75 inches since surgery! WOW. Although it seems like my rear end isn't budging, I am losing all over according to the tape measure. Most notably, I lost 1.25" from my neck, 2.5" from my chest, 1" from my bust (Yay - they're not leaving as fast as I had thought they might!), 3" from my waist, and 3.75" from my hips. I'm really glad to see the numbers.

But one thing that was cool was that today I wore a jacket to church that I hadn't had on in a couple of years. It was so tight across my boobs that it looked bad and it wouldn't even button over my hips at all. Well, today it fit and was so comfortable! It's wool, too, so it was nice and warm for church. Have I mentioned that I am constantly freezing all the time? That is REALLY a new one on me! Crazy, I tell ya!!
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Little over 2 weeks out...

Feb 14, 2009

I haven't posted because I have been up (and out) doing stuff!  Which I suppose is good, but I do want and need to document what is happening.

Surgery was on January 28th.  It went really well.  I barely remember seeing Dr. Smith that evening when he came in my room to check on me, but he did tell me that I have 2 oz. stomach and an 85 cm CC.  All that makes me very happy since I had told him I wanted him to be as conservative as he was willing to be since I was pretty convinced that my body is going to be one that is resistant to losing weight.  I feel good for the most part.  Not quite myself yet, but I think it's just because I get tired easily.  I have tolerated all that I have choked down, meaning I haven't thrown up at all.  I have been nauseous a few times, but only took a couple of phenergan total.  Most of the time, I can take an ounce of Maalox Plus and I'm good to go (per Dr. Smith, of course).

The hospital staff were great.  For anyone reading who wil go to Dr. Smith and Wellstar Kennestone, I really had the best experience. The nurses were great, and I made sure I told the patient advocates to give gold stars to my 2 nurses, Joni and Lisa.  I also had some really sweet techs, and Mary and Inell were great, too.  They were all attentive to my needs, and I never had to ask for pain meds twice.  The room was clean and nice (I had a private room, and it was worth it, so spend the extra $30 a day and get one!)  I could see the skyline of Atlanta and I could see Stone Mountain out of my hospital window.  Not the worst view ever, I gotta tell ya.  All in all, I felt very well taken care of, especially by Dr. Smith as he came to check on me twice a day!  He is SUCH a wonderful man, and I feel very blessed to have him as my surgeon.

Beginning to poop again was kinda iffy.  I was totally unprepared for the stench that my poops were in the beginning.  I can tell the smeel is changing as my diet advances.  It was liquid until we got home and I started crushing my calciums.  That helped it to firm up some, but still pudding consistency.  As of yesterday, I had to finally admit to myself that I have a small hemorrhoid.  It bled early on, but that has subsided.  I have always wiped gently with the medicated wipes, and have really tried to pamper my bum.  I used the ointment, and it has really helped with the pain.  Well, it's more uncomfortable than anything.  All in all, I'm glad it's not worse.

Food still sucks because it's liquid or pureed.  I am definitely one of those who ate with their eyes first.  I know that this too shall pass, but for right now, nothing is appetizing.  I'll be glad when I can have solid food.  I do have to admit that I cheated this morning and had a really really soft scrambled egg, and it was gloriously good.  I will try to be good though until Wed. when I can advance to soft foods.  I do look forward to that.

Well, that's about it for now.  I go back to work on Monday.  I am bored here at home, yet I am dreading going back because I hope I don't have any issues with pooping, etc at work.  I know I can get in my water, etc., but I am still anxious to see how it goes.  I will bet that I get really tired, but if I do I know I can probably cut back to half-days for a week or so.  My company is great! 

Oh yeah, and I've lost 23 pounds since surgery - I suppose that's nothing to sneeze at in 2 weeks.









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Damned Insurance Company!!!

Jun 01, 2008

I am going to upload the scans of the 2 page reason for denial in my picture section if it is legible and readable.  All who care to take a look and help me out with wisdom and advice, PLEASE do so!!!

I'm so frustrated and angry!!!!  My poor BF and the dog have probably been traumatized by my foul language since I read the letter.  I've cried.  I probably will cry some more.  It sucks.  I will appeal from here to infinity if I have to.  Geez, if I could have afforded to pay for this, I would have done so in the beginning.  What really made me want to scream and punch someone out was the line in the letter that said the member always has the option of taking personal financial responsibility for these services.  Damn slimy bastards.

Tomorrow is the Day

Aug 06, 2007

So tomorrow morning we leave to drive the 4 hours up to DC for the info session with Dr. Elariny.  I am excited, it's like a kid waiting for Christmas morning to arrive.  I do have a list of what seems like a million questions (Thanks to that lovely Red!) to ask him, and I look forward to all that will be said, the information exchange.

The real hard part for me will be waiting.... waiting to actually have the surgery.  It will probably be next year before I can actually have the surgery because I am starting back to school later this month to get some course work in clinical trials research (I have been doing pre-clinical drug development for 10 years now), and I also have spent the last year and a half trying to figure out why my right shoulder hurts so bad that sometimes I can barely get it over my head.  Well, about 2 weeks ago, they finally figured out that I have a SLAP tear in the shoulder joint (similar to a rotator cuff tear, but it's the ligament that surrounds and holds the head of the humerus in place in the joint).  So the doc says I'll be in a sling for 3 weeks, and in rehab for 4 to 6 months.  I had to schedule it out in October since I'm having to do that surgery during fall break.  Oh, and did I mention that my going back to school is on the sly since if my boss found out, he'd flip completely out?  He takes stuff so personally, and I don't need him not being supportive for all the other stuff I'm going through.  I'd essentially be a traitor in his eyes.

But I'm not going to let that deter me.  I'm going to get this shoulder fixed, and get it rehabbed, and then on to the good stuff - DS surgery!!

I am excited because I feel like this step - the first one - is the most important of all.

Taking the first step....

Jul 23, 2007

I am going to elaborate about me and upload some pictures soon, but I have to say that I have made the first of many steps in this journey.  After the epiphany I had this past weekend thanks to my friend Kris, I talked with my boyfriend and today, I made the first appointment for the consultation with Dr. Elariny.  The appointment is on August 7th, at 5:00 p.m. - it's the free information session.  My boyfriend, Gerald, is going with me.  He's being super-supportive and understands that I am doing this so we can at long last run that half-marathon together.  And as a good side-effect, I am hoping that my plantar faschiitis, extreme GERD, high blood pressure, stress-induced incontinence, and back and other muscle aches will go away.  Who knows, I might even have 26 miles in me.  We have such a wonderful life together planned, including sailing the Caribbean in our sail boat, and I want to be healthy and able to do it!

I have to say thank you to all whom I have read posts from as well.  Your stories are truly inspiring, and I can't wait to meet the new, healthy, skinny me!

About Me
Durham, NC
Location
28.2
BMI
DS
Surgery
01/28/2009
Surgery Date
Jul 23, 2007
Member Since

Friends 67

Latest Blog 5
Damned Insurance Company!!!
Tomorrow is the Day
Taking the first step....

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