dmundrick

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Wow!  I guess I've been missing in action for a while now.  A LOT has happened!  I had my surgery on October 11th last year and it all went fine except the hospital stay.  I had one brief problem with low blood pressure (yes, I passed out!) the first night in ICU which later they decided was because they weren't giving me enough fluids.  However instead of going on to the normal floor where they know how to care for bariatric patients, I was sent to the floor where most heart patients go who have heart monitors.  They really didn't have a clue about caring for bariatric patients.  Good thing Dr. Cole's office had taught me so much about what to expect because I had to be my own patient advocate!  Once out of the hospital, everything went smoothly. (Except the chair incident but I won't go there).

Well to make a long story short, it is now February and at four months out, I have lost 100 lbs!  I am so stoked!  This is awesome!  Only problem is keeping clothes around that fit!  Unfortunately I am going through extreme financial problems now and can't afford even the Salvation Army sometimes.  Hopefully things look up on that front soon but I'm starting to lose hope.  I am exercising at the Wellness Center (Cardio Rehab) at the Arnot Ogden Hospital twice a week.  Kevin (the trainer) is pretty awesome!  He doesn't let you slack for a moment and I need that.  Unlike several of the people in my support group, I still don't like exercise but I don't mind doing it as much anymore.  I almost feel obligated to do it since I've already put myself through the surgery.  Maybe at some point I won't see exercise as evil and work-like but not yet.

Some of the difficulties I've faced since surgery has been finding foods that are agreeable to me.  Before surgery, I loved chicken, eggs, cheese, tuna, etc.  Now almost all of those don't like me.  I still like the smell and taste of them but everytime I try to eat them, I get severe pains and up they come.  Dr. Cole just took me off the Protonix Monday and I've noticed less problems when I eat, so maybe soon I will be able to eat some of them again.  Sometimes it seems I'm living on protein shakes and bars.  But I would do this surgery again in a heartbeat.  This has been the best thing I've ever done for myself.

I have been overweight since middle school and have tried so many diets I have lost count. I was a member of Curves (lost 17 lbs and regained) but the hours were too restrictive. The most successful was the South Beach diet (lost 70 lbs, regained 52). I have severe sleep apnea. My depression is starting to get the best of me.

1/30/06 - First visit to Dr. Cole. Dr. Cole is an extremely caring and sensitive surgeon. He is the first physician I've talked to who doesn't seem to blame me for being overweight. He clearly explained the whole procedure in easy to understand terms. I felt very relaxed and comfortable talking to him. My current BMI of 53 combined with my severe sleep apnea make me a perfect candidate! (Weight 355)

2/06/06 - Attended a group support session through Dr. Cole's office. My son went with me and it was very informative for both of us.

2/14/06 - Went to the group informational meeting at Dr. Cole's office. Everything was explained in detail from the billing and insurance paperwork to what to expect through the whole process to dietary needs. The more I hear about wls, the more I want it. (Down a couple lbs from 355 to 352)

2/23/06 - I had my individual intake visits with Colleen Bucher, the dietician, and Sandi Devine, the clinical social worker. The meeting with Colleen went excellent as did the meeting with Sandi. However, Sandi seems to think that I might use food to relieve stress and will have problems after surgery with that. She has suggested that I see an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) counsellor through my workplace.

2/27/06 - Had my first meeting with Mr. Allen, my EAP counsellor. We talked for over 1 1/2 hours and he doesn't think that I do use food to sooth. He admits that I've been through a lot of stressful situations in the last few years but I don't appear to abuse food due to this. I eat because I'm bored, it tastes good, and it's there. I've solved the first problem by making it no longer "there" in our house. Now on to the other two.

2/28/06 - At Sandi Devine's suggestion, I visited my primary physician to have my depression medicine changed. I was on Celexa and although it made me this happy appearing person on the outside for everyone else to see, it really wasn't helping on the inside. Now I will try Zoloft. (Note - I'm down a few lbs from 352 to 349)

3/06/06 - Attended the WLS Support group again. I learned that almost everyone in the group had trouble with sleep apnea before surgery but no longer do now. Please let the surgery be soon!!!
Also I had another meeting with Mr. Allen (EAP). I signed a release for him to discuss my case with Sandi at Dr. Cole's office. Hopefully I can get back on track with my path toward surgery.

3/09/06 - I had a meeting with Barb Cleveland at Dr. Jennings' office (my pulmonary physician). She agrees that wls is the way to go but wants me to try an auto titrating BiPAP machine in the meantime since I'm unable to tolerate the CPAP.

3/13/06 - Yet another meeting with Mr. Allen (EAP). He was unable to make contact with Sandi, so we just talked about how the week had gone. We will meet probably one more time after he contacts Sandi.
Also I got my new BiPAP machine so it's back to being plugged in at night.

3/26/06 - Just wanted to update. The BiPAP machine is helping but not like it should. I'm still exhausted all the time but not as much. It's still annoying to wear at night although the new mask is much better than the old ones. I have my appointment set up for 4/04 with Sarah at Dr. Cole's office for my complete physical It's funny since that's my birthday and I'd rather be at the doctor's office than at work that day! ;o) I have an appointment with a new primary physician tomorrow too! I'll be seeing Dr. Mitchell (thanks Jen!). I don't believe my old primary physician understands wls at all and that makes me more than a bit uncomfortable. (Note: I'm down to 344 lbs trying to eat healthier!)

5/20/06 - Haven't been on in a while. On 3/27 I went to the appointment with what was supposed to be my new primary physician Dr. Mitchell. When I got there I find out they had made the appointment with Dr. Stryker instead. I went ahead with the appointment and he seems nice enough. We'll see. On 4/04 (my birthday) I had my appointment for my full physical with Sarah at Dr. Cole's office. She was concerned about the whole anti-depressant issue and that they hadn't seen the support letter from my former primary physician. Otherwise a few more blood tests and everything was looking good. I contacted my former primary physican by letter and then by phone and finally on 5/16, Dr. Cole's office confirmed that they received it FINALLY! On 5/01, I attended the support group with my mother who is very concerned about my getting this surgery. She didn't really ask any questions at all so I still don't know all her concerns. On 5/18, she went to Dr. Cole's office with me for my next appointment. Once again she didn't say much of anything. He explained all the possible complications in detail. Although she's supposed to be my support person, I don't sense much support. While leaving Dr. Cole's office, she simply said "I wouldn't do it."

5/21/06 - I have a little more insight into what my mother is thinking today. I was talking to my sister on the phone and while my mother won't discuss her concerns about the surgery with me apparently she discussed them with my sister. She is concerned that I am only looking at the possible positives of this surgery and not even considering the possible negatives. She is concerned that something bad will happen, possibly even the worst, and is worried about where that will leave my 17 year old son. I have been thinking about that and have been looking at putting together some sort of will. Although I can't afford to go to a lawyer and get a legal document drawn up, I am at least looking at putting my wishes down in writing so everyone will know what they are. It just really bothers me that she won't talk to me about her concerns.

9/23/06 - I know it's been a long time but this summer has been the summer from HELL! At the 5/18 appointment with Dr. Cole, supposedly everything was in order to submit to insurance. Two weeks later I'm talking to Dr. Cole's office and they tell me that they still haven't submitted to insurance because the letter from my primary physician "wasn't good enough". Nice of them to tell me. So I'm trying to get the letter AGAIN! On June 15th, a lady decides to take a left turn on a four-way in 5 o'clock traffic right into my path. I didn't see it coming because there were 2 larger vehicles stopped in the left lane and I was going straight in the right lane in my little PT Cruiser. Needless to say it was a horrendous crash. I thought for sure my car was totaled but the incompetent insurance adjustors decided it wasn't. I ended up not getting my vehicle back until Sept 7th!!! The total repair bill was over $10,000 ($2000 more than I paid for the car) and the lady's insurance had to pay for a rental vehicle for me for the 2 1/2 months. Not totaled, huh?!?! Of course during those 2 1/2 months, I was constantly annoyed by both insurance companies and the rental car place. The insurance decides not to pay for the rental car, the rental car company takes money out of my checking account that I didn't even have, and the bank charges me for overdraft!! It took another 2 weeks to straighten that out. However on 7/27 I had an appointment with Dr. Stryker and asked him to write a letter. Then with all the car problems (and my house getting vandalized and one of the cats dying!), I totally had put this surgery on the back burner in my mind. So wasn't I shocked on Sept 8th when Dr. Cole's office calls to say that I've been approved for surgery and wanted to schedule it for Sept 27th! Due to the fact that it's quarter end in the payroll dept where I work I had the date changed to Oct 11th. So now I'm just waiting (and not too patiently!).