Deborah C.

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Well, I got caught up in life.  The kids keep me very busy and I haven't had a chance to really sit down and do me for a while.  The hubby just got orders for korea so I have a whole new set of issues on my plate these days.  But i am trucking along. 

About three months post op I was diagnosed with IBS.  it seems to be brought on by the surgery.  But i figure any amount of discomfort is worth a healthy me.  i was precribed an antispasmotic to help with the abdominal discomfort but it doesn't seem to help.   i just keep on going though.  i am down to 158 lbs.  that's what umm....68 lbs down.  the docs want me down to about 105-115.  Closer to 100lbs beacuse of my small stature but it's not going to happen.  My goal weight was always a little more generous between 115 and 130.  the last time i was at 130 i thought I looked alot like a bobble head , and kinda sickly.  We'll see how it goes.  I have my 6 month follow up next week.   Hopefully all is well.

Well it's  been about 8 days since my surgery.  It's been really tough.  The surgery lasted longer than expected.  My lapband and it's parts had started to scar into my liver and my stomach.  Removal of the band took a while.  Post-op i was really uncomfortable.  Unable to pass gas, in way too much pain to move, i was miserable.  After 2 nights I was able to return home--only because i lived right around the corner from the hospital.  My heart rate was up no one was sure why but they let me go home anyway. 

It's been really tough.  After 2 days at home i started to feel as though I made a really bad decision.  i was hungry, uncomfortable, REALLY depressed, i felt really lost.  I cried a lot that day. My husband was unsure of what to do. We couldn't find a protien that I could tolerate.  Everything makes me throw up.  The taste and texture is hard for me to handle.  I cant begin to decribe the feeling I have about my issue with the protien.  It's a huge struggle for me.  Sticking to the diet has been really tough.  All I want is to chew food.  You don't realize how much you miss the basics till you cant do them.  Well that's all for now.

Well, i had my gall bladder removed july 6th.  Thank goodness!!!   My pain is gone. i still have the vomiting but it's better than it was. There is absolutely no fluid in my band.  i have been able to keep my weight steady but of course no loss.  So i am finally scheduled  for a revision on September 15th.  It's been a rough and very long ride but i am so ready for the next step.

Well, it's been about 2 1/2 years since i had my Lapband surgery.  I think i have felt evey emotion one can feel in my position.  I was excited in the begining.  I started a journey that at first seemed to be the right path.  i lost 40 pounds right out the gate.  I loved it.  Then the hubby came home from his deployment and things just got better. He saw the beginings of a new me and loved the confidence and happiness that i had gained.  Then of course we got pregnant.  After a few short weeks of soon to be mommy bliss i had a miscarriage. We were both devastated.  i struggled with the loss for some time.  Life carried on and i got back on track with my weight loss.  My first Thanksgiving with the lapband was an interesting one.  i had just had a fill a few days before and was feeling really tight.  Mashed potatoes were getting stuck.  Not a fun feeling.  i stuck it out for another 2 weeks. Then of course had an incedent with a peice of shrimp and ended up in the emergency room.  Eventually the shrimp worked it's way down but not before me finding out that i was pregnant once again.   What was it with my birthcontrol?  i had fluid removed and carried a beautiful baby girl full term.  All the while losing weight.  in january of this year i had a fill and all was great.  Little did i know that by mid march i would be crying my eyes out with my head in the toilet every meal.   The pain was horrible.  i couldn't get through a meal without pain, tear and a horrible hate of food.   Eventually i had to go under floro and fluid was remove.  At the time Dr Downey spoke to me about having revision surgery to RNY.  At this point the hubby and i had been discuss the option for a couple of weeks.  So I agreed and the wheels were set in motion. I spoke with Dr Reilly and he agreed with the decision for a revision.  So i had a psych eval- something I didnt have with my first surgery.  I also got new birth control and a second opinion from my PCM.   He wanted to check my gall bladder.  Turns out my gall bladder isn't working right.  I never would have guessed.  So now what happens?  

i saw Dr Michel yesterday and he pland to doulbe check the floro and the HIDA scan ( gall baldder thingy) consult with another surgeon in the clinic and then plan a surgery date.  Dr Reilly quoted me an August possibly even September time frame.  Dr  Michel thinks he can get me in By July at the latest August.  i guess we will see.  I am ready for the pain and vomiting to stop.  I am ready to lose this weight and get back on track to reach my goal. I am ready to really be able to live again.  I'm just ready. And Praying.  

So last July I found out that I was pregnant. Six months after surgery!! But a month later I miscarried.  George and I thought that I was the lord's way of saying " It can happen and will when the time is right."   So we went on with our lives.  I got a fill to replace all of the fluid that had been removed for the pregnancy.  JUst getting an appointment took 2 months.  So mid October I finally have my fill. No big deal.  I had no restrction so I has another fill the week of Thanksgiving.  It was a little rough to get through Turkey Day. All I wanted to do was eat all of the food I had cooked for the massive crowd of military members, family and friends, but I sat down with 1/4 cup of mashy taters and dealt.   For some reason I felt super tight.  Well eventually the tightness wears down a little bit.  So the hubby and I decided to have dinner with some friends at a Hibatchi place in town.  I ordered chicken and shrimp, the whole time looking forward to the leftovers that I will be enjoying for days to come.  Partway through the meal I realize that there's some thing wrong.  I quickly rush to the restrooms where I begin to heave up the tiny bit of dinner that i has just eaten.  NO NO NO!!! This isn't supposed to happen. i go back to the table and ask for a to go box.  I resolve to trying again later.  The waitress brings around tiny bowls of ice cream and a fortune cookie.  I decide to try the ice cream maybe I will feel better about my unexpected purge.  Wrong!  Two tiny bites in and I find myself in the bathroom once again with my arms wrapped tightly aroung the throne begging for the heaving to stop.  I finally come out of the bathroom and signal to my husband that I am going outside for some fresh air.  A friend come out to join me only to find me on my hands and knees next to some bushes heaving again.  By this time I am balling like a 2 year old whose balloon just popped.  Karl, the friend, runs inside and tells them it's time to go and rushes back out to my aid.  My husband and out friends come out holding my leftovers and my daughter.  That's when George realized I was in worse shape that I had been letting on.  He throws my daughter to a friend and askes her to watch while he drops me off at the ER and takes Bella home (i forgot to mention that we were babysitting)  Sendo gladly takes our daughter, we rush to the E.R.   All the while I am writhing in my seat crying becasue of the pain and the need to puke.  George runs me into the E.R. i get checked in as he leaves to meet Bella's parents. I am taken back immediately (almost unheard of in a military hospital.)  and am seen.  The e.r. doc calls the surgeon on call to see if he can get ahold of the bariatric surgeon to find out what needs to be done.  Thankfully my surgeon was on call that night.  he instructs them to get x rays and call him back for further instuctions.  Before going to xray they have me pee in a cup. Gotta be on the safe side.  The whole time I am thinking there's no way and this is a waste of time.  Once I filled the cup and hand it to the nurse I am whisked away to radiology.  Actually it was more like I was told to walk myself down to radiology.  Right about then is when I began wishing that George was with me.  As I am walking through the empty hallways of Eglin hospital I wonder where my husband is.  Bella's parents are probably taking ther sweet time.  Oh well. I make it to radiology and the desk is empty.  He must be back there doing something.  So  I sit down in the waiting room.  Finally someone shows up at the desk.  "Mrs Carter," he says. i nod and he tells me that he's ready.  As I get up from the chair the phone rings.  He answers " Radiology... No we were just getting ready to go back... OH!! Okay."  He hangs up and looks at me with a smirk. " Mrs Cater, I have been told to tell you to head back to the E.R asap.  No xrays."  Confused and a little miffed I waddle myself back in the dirction of the E.R.  all the while wondering what this could be about.  Did DR Riley decide to come down and take a look at me himself?  I walk back in to the back and am greeted by my nurse.  Without hesitation," You're pregnant.  we need to get blood to verify and youneed to lie down.  We have to try to get you to drink fluids."  What?!  I was beyond confused.  As I begin to lie down the doc comes in.  "Deborah, this came as a surprise.  We're gonna verify it with blood while that's going on here's some ice water try drinking it and see if we can get whatevers lodged if it is anything at all to go down. "  Darned it all.  So while getting needles rammed into my arm i drink. Suddenly there is a pop and a release of pressure.  Hurray.  I'm not stuck!!!.  I continue drinking until the cup is dry.  Now what.  I lay in bed staring at the ceiling when i hear George's voice.  " I'm looking for my wife, Deborah Carter."  " Oh she's behind that curtain.  She's got some great news for you!!"  Darn that doc.  Why did he have to tell him that.  Now I have to tell him that I am pregnant. I don't want him to get his hopes up..... Tune in tomorrow when we reveal WHAT GEORGE THINKS!!!

It's been a while since I have posted anything.  I have been so caught up in life and enjoying my husband's return from the great sandbox.  It's been great getting to know him all over again.  I have been keeping up with the diet and trying to stay in touch with the exercise. Life has been so hectic.   I just found out that there is a possibility that I am pregnant.  Although it is a blessing I have so many concerns.  I went today for mt blood test and hopefully I will have results by this afternoon.  We'll see where this goes. 

My surgery was Wednesday, I came home Thursday, today is Saturday and I feel great.  Haven't had any need for pain meds since I got home thursday afternoon.  I have been rather tired but I guess that is to be expected.  I am struggling with the loneliness of my husband being deployed. He called the morning of surgery and I could hardly breathe when I heard his voice.   It was like we were dating all over again I got all tongue tied, was stumbling for something to say.  It was so weird, but great to hear from him. Then next four months are going to be difficult without him.  But I know that even though he's thousands of miles away he's supporting me the whole time.