AnnaNicole921

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Well I'm indifferent as to how I'm supposed to feel since I think everyone reacts differently to the surgrery.   I went in on 9/1 and was released 9/3.    It was a rough start to say the least.   I thought and so did the doc that I would be going in for laproscopic but during sugery it turns out I have too much muscle mass afterall.   Irony I tell you--the obese woman goes in for sugery but can't get cameras to go in/operate on because of muscle mass.  Abs of steel anyone?  I go back tomorrow for my first clinic visit and going to ask how they couldn't tell this before the surgery--with all the marvels of medicine, isn't there a way to tell if someone can go in for it or not?   Clearly they can tell a patient that is clearly too large that they either have to lose more first or that lapro isn't even an option because of too much flesh to go through.   Strange they haven't made this a better study.  My overall emotion is that I prepared totally for laproscopic procedure and read everything I could on it and the recovery process etc.  Not thinking that open would even be an option, I glanced through those sections,   I just felt a litte defeated that's all. 

I was also in a lot of pain and when you have a severe allergy to pain meds that make you itch, have severe headaches and feel very nauseous, recovery is a bitch!  Everything about my 3 day stay was awful awful awful.  If it wasn't for my fiance James being there with me 24/7 I don't think my sanity would have allowed me to remain somewhat calm.   By Friday I was in so much pain (but walking and peeing on my own--teeth clenched) I was ready to give up.   Thank God my doc came in and suggested that maybe lortab and vallium to settle the muscle spasms would help and not give such bad side effects.   Bring  it on I said!   The dietitian also came in and I finally broke down and said I just want to know how many people have said at this point that they wish they had never done this?  All I find are people who said they would do it again and again bc they love it so much,  She said at this point of the process--almost everyone, but I can understand you being an open patient and not tollerating the pain meds, even more so.   She contacted a woman off the buddy list from 5 years ago that had it worse than me and said she could probably come in and talk to me.   Once I was out from the new meds and waking up, there she was.   She looked fabulous and told me that it took her 3 mons just to feel good again and knew that wouldnt be my case bc she had  had a surgery before this and there was a lot of scar tissue they couldn't go through.  Basically she said she lost 100lbs in the first 9 mons and when you obtain that goal, the days of when you were in such agnoy seem so long ago and forgotten---that's why most don't talk about that part of it.   She was extremely happy with her results and is a faithful patient and still comes to see her doc's twice a year, not just once a year for follow-up.   THis made me feel a lot better and so did that medicine!

Life at home has been ok, the pain meds are helping, but having a hard time drinking and eating.  They said that the drinking is more important than the eating in the first week to stay hydrated.   I haven't really felt that fullness yet that they say you'll have--I was picturing like immediate feeling of being stuffed after 2 or 3 bites.....but maybe I don't really know what full is since before I used to eat until I was stuffed?  Food for thought.   The gas has been painful--not going to lie.   I also was a pooping machine (sorry for the info) and haven't gone since Tues the 31st.   I'm going to send my fiance to the store to get some OTC medicine to help me go.  I've also started weening myself off the pain med and vallium as I have an appt with the doc tomorrow to discuss where I should be as far as being in pain still.  

I went walking yesterday and it really tired me out--thing is that I normally work out and not a couch potato....but between the humidity we have here in Charleston and the pain in my belly, up and down the street was enough and I was wiped out!  I've been walking around thehouse too trying to move the gas and it's only helped a bit. 

Last---I'm surprised that I haven't lost weight--2lbs doesn't count for me as I move 10lbs pre-op by myself every other day from water weight.   If you have any opinions on this let me know.   Weight before I went in for surgery: 379.   When I got home 376.  From then on it's been between 378 and 380.   I'm 6'1 FYI...

I haven't been on in a while since I have been focusing on my weight loss (I went on vacation and did gain back about 5 since June) and other life events....but MUSC called me today and my insurance went through!!!  I am ready to go for Sept 1 and all I have to pay out of pocket is $855.00!!!  SOOO happy!!  

Also--on our last day of vacation, James proposed!!  I am so excited.   Our date is set for 11-11-11.   Yeah!!!!!!!

Well I am now down 12lbs since I started on Monday!  I was at 392 and now at 380.  Nothing new to say today, but really excited about losing this weight and every day is one step closer to my surgery!  Have a great day everyone!

Well today is day 2 of the Metabolic Weight Loss Program we have here in Charleston (AhhhhhMAZING!).   In just ONE day I have dropped 7lbs!  It might be a little water weight, but I highly doubt that since I have to drink a GALLON of water a day!  I feel so energized and full of hope.    I'm so excited to get down to a lower weight pre-surgery so that I have even less weight to lose post surgery.    If anyone is interested in finding out more about this program, please let me know.   I know they are only local to Charleston, and maybe even SC...but I'm sure there are comparable programs out there.    What I love about this is that I don't have to think about what I'm going to make to eat.  Sure I could get that with Jennie Craig or NutraSystem, but those foods always seem to make you crave MORE real food to then binge and crash.   With this plan and the magic pill of phentermine to reduce my hunger (doctor prescribed) and simple soups and shakes/puddings I just add water and go.   

I also bought myself gerber baby spoons to help with taking smaller bites, practicing for what I'll be doing the rest of my life.  It also helps me slow down and eat slower.   Like right now I just had the 8oz of chicken noodle soup that I made with 2 oz of canned chicken breast.   I've probably eaten a half ounce and the rest is in the bowl.   I'm slowly going to pick at it as I finish writing this. 

On a personal note--I had a great time RV'ing with my dad and boyfriend over Father's Day Weekend.   I know I'm not supposed to know this, but my boyfriend asked my dad permission to marry me!  Haha--they both told me about it without the other knowing so it looks like they are both really excited for this, as am I!!!  I'm so excited to see my extended family in a few weeks and excited to get it over with too so that James will propose!  :)  Hopefully I'll be at a decent enough weight come 11-11-11 (our wedding date) to look fabulous in a wedding dress and not look at my pictures with disgust.   So happy right now!!! :)

Yesterday I had the 2nd part of the process completed by going to the mandatory Nutrition class for Gastric Bypass Surgery.   I learned A LOT.   Some of the stuff I already knew through my own research, but they definitely did a great job covering all aspects of what to expect before, during and after surgery and THEN SOME!   I love the team--both dietitians and the PA that assists the surgeons.    What I also liked was the support group that I attended that night--not mandatory but definitely encouraged to go to.   I took my boyfriend James who also is interested in losing wieght but not sure yet about surgery.   The people who have gone through the process are really nice to talk to and had a lot of good information.    Besides 2 others and myself, everyone there seemed to be at least in their 40s to even 60s!   I was surprised that more younger people weren't there, but it probably also has to do with the fact that younger people may not have the insurance or money to do it and are probably still struggling trying to do it on their own until they reach an older age like the people there and finally decide to take surgery as the final step.   

I said in my last post that I was starting Metabolic on Thursday but....it is going to have to wait until Monday.   I know, I know what a shocker, but it is good reason.   The first three days on it are AWFUL.  You go from eating normally to just liquids and psychologically it is a killer.  Sure the phentermine helps some, but you're still kind of hungry longing for solid foods.   Well this weekend is Father's Day and I promised my dad a weekend of camping with him.   I told him I was going to start the diet again and he said, remember we are going camping this weekend, you should wait until Monday.    Sorry, but mid 90s weather and hot liquids like the soups or living on pudding all weekend is NOT my cup of tea in the wilderness.   Am I going to binge on mountain pies, hot dogs, s'mores and such though?  Not at all--I will try my hardest!   I know I'll be getting a good deal of activity in as well from swimming and walking on the beach so if I do decide to indulge in more than one s'more maybe I'll be ok.  Haha.  

The last step is my psychiatry appt and then the advisor of the program will be sending in my letter to the insurance company.   It's covered so I know I will get approved, but the waiting part will kill me!!  Happy weekend everyone!

I got my first phone calls two weeks ago from MUSC asking that I make appts to meet my surgeon and to take a nutrition class.   The very first call I received was from Nina, the dietitian at MUSC.   We had a phone interview, asking me about my daily eaitng and exercise habits.  I was very honest and upfront with her.   I told her that I normally excercise 1-2 times a week, sometimes 3 but haven't at all in a couple months due to some changes in my life (gee I wonder where that extra 20lbs came from??).  We set up a goal to get me back on my elliptical machine that I really enjoy and to get back into water aerobics which I also LOVE (love not having meat heads in the pool and having the comfort of just older ladies!!) 2-3 times a week.   I started today and did two 10 min sets and embarassingly enough, I could barely do it.  I'm totally digusted with myself.  Just a year ago it was easy to do 30 mins JUST.LIKE.THAT.  Not anymore!   Anyway, we talked about my eating habits and she was very impressed with my knowledge of nutrition and what I ate.   I told her that what I ate has never been the problem so much.  It's HOW much.   I also told her that I am really bad about skipping breakfast and or eating breakfast but then not eating anything until late at night so when I do get hungry I tend to really over eat.   She agreed that isn't good and we discussed other things that I eat.  I feel really lucky that I am not a junk food eater or someone who grew up not knowing that fried foods and ranch dressing on a leafy green salad are bad for you.  Don't get me wrong--I'm morbidly obese so I definitely have had PLENTY of moments where I ate like crap, but I KNOWLINGY did it.   I don't need to be trained on how to eat, but rather lessons on planning out my meals and snacks and how to eat 5-6 small healthy meals a day. 

Today was my first appoitment with Dr. Baker,  my surgeon.  I was initially reluctant to working with her since I had only known Dr. Byrne.  However she has been with his practice at MUSC for 11 years and learned all that she knows about weight loss surgery through him.  That really made me feel a lot better.   She is very big on customer service as well and ensures that her team is there for the patient whenever need be.   I thought I was going to be a lot more emotional than I was, but I only cried once....and that was when I said I couldn't believe I was 394lbs!  I haven't weight this much EVER in my life...the closest was 392 when my mom died--so this was the worst.  She was so nice and said we don't judge around here and made sure to tell me not to beat myself up.   She looked at my case thoroughly and asked me why I wanted to do this and what surgery option was I looking at.   I said the RYN procedure.   I have been morbidly obese pretty much my entire adult life and this option will not only help me lose the weight the fastest and the most weight, but success in long-term weight loss is what I am looking at.  She totally agreed and explained that I would lose approx 142lbs with this procedure.   My current BMI is 52 and I more than meet the standard to have surgery without co-morbidities.  Unfortunately for me I do have them: PCOS (can't have kids with this, insulin resistance, few monthly periods, abnormal hair growth), 2 herniated discs in my lower back, high blood pressure and planter fasciitis (heel spur).   She said that because of my age, the fact that I already excercise and eat healthy that I am an excellent candidate for this--both during surgery and post surgery.   However, she said she'd like to have me lose roughly 15lbs before surgery so shrink my liver and make less risk when she goes in there.   I have an appt on Thurs with Metabolic Medical Center where I have gone before and lost 19 lbs in a week and 2 days.   I think I can handle it again for this!  Besides, I am seeing my family in a month for a wedding, so that is great motivation in itself.   The weight loss plan with Metabolic is really good for someone in this prediciment.  They prescribe phentermine and I live on a liquid diet, much post-op, only the phentermine is the substitute for the small stomach. 

We also went over her history and risks and concerns.   I will be at the hospital for two nights and be out of work for a total of 2 weeks.  Not too bad!!  I am very very excited.   Tomorrow is my appointment for the nutrition class and I'm really excited for that as well.   Tomorrow evening is the WLS support group and I can't wait to meet others--both in my shoes and those who have lost weight already.   I can't wait!!