Infection

Sep 02, 2014

I went to see my surgeon for a follow up visit today.  I have been complaining that one of my incision sites was draining too much.  I've had to change the dressings six times a day.  Well, as expected, Dr. G. said it was infected.  He opened in, flushed it with peroxide and packed it.  He also ordered a visiting nurse every day to redo the dressing.  I have to take off the dressing in the morning and I am scared to do that.  I am in pain but he did give me vicodin for the pain.  He also ordered an anti-fungal powder for under my breast and put me on amoxicillan for 7 days. So much for a smooth recovery.

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Recovery

Aug 30, 2014

My recovery is going well.  I'm on pureed foods right now and I'm sticking to chicken and fish for the most part- some greek yogurt too and scrambled egg.  I'm hating crushing my pills but I intend to get a break from that by putting my g-tube to use for my meds until it gets taken out.  I know I'll have outpatient surgery for that and to remove the filter in a few weeks.  I don't feel nauseous  nor do I get sick anymore so the fistula removal part of my surgery was a complete success.  I'm losing weight regularly and I'm down 30 pounds since my pre-op liquid diet began.  I'm down 17 of those pounds post-oop.  I'm updating my health tracker regularly.  I see my surgeon on Tuesday and will update again after that visit and after Wednesday's Phase 3 class.

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SURGERY!

Aug 16, 2014

I had my surgery 8/11.  I am so happy!  It's 5 days post op and I have to say, I feel better than I thought I would.  It only hurts when I stand up and when I cough.  When I walk, it just feels tight.  I flushed my g-tube myself today and redid all my bandages myself.  I have a nurse coming in 2 times a week next week to help me with wound care and I'll have a home health aid to help me around the house.  They are going to evaluate me for physical therapy, too.  I can't wait to see a difference on the scale.  Right now my scale doesn't measure my weight which is wrong because I didn't gain 14 pounds since the day of surgery!  My son bought the scale.  i would have bought a better scale but he had the money for it and I didn't therefore I have to make due with what I have.

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Big Day

Aug 08, 2014

Today I go to my surgeon's office for the official weigh in.  I was supposed to lose 25 pounds prior to surgery and I'm fitting back into my clothes so I think I made it.  Last weigh in was 10 days ago and I had lost 20 pounds... but didn't fit into my clothes.  I also call this afternoon for my surgery time.  I'm hoping it's early because I don't want to have to wait all day, it will drive me NUTS!  Besides, I can't have anything to eat or drink, either.  My son is coming in from Houston today, too, to be there for me with the surgery.  I'm definitely looking forward to seeing him.  He said he would take me out to get an overnight bag for the hospital.  I plan on getting a better home scale when he does- according to the one I have, I haven't lost a pound!  My case manager is supposed to take me to the hospital today.  I'm praying that he does  I need to get there and I have not made other arrangements.  I'm anxious about the surgery but I have faith in my surgeons.  I am just nervous that the surgery is so complex and so long.

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IVC Filter placed and pre-op blood work done!

Jul 29, 2014

The ivc filter was no big deal, it was sore for the day but not even sore enough to take a tylenol.  I'm on the pre-op liquid diet for 10 days now and weighed in when I went for the blood work and according to the scale there, I am down 20 pounds!  I still have 10 days on this diet to go before my pre-surgery weigh in and I am not worried about it at all :)  I'm getting so excited knowing that this is really happening and I am doing everything right.  I've been using the CVS brand protein (excellent) and the Walmart Rich Chocolate Pure Protein (not too bad) and I've been good.  I did have in the past 10 days, a thumbnail sized piece of talapia and 4 fork fulls of rice and I feel bad for that but doing this diet of protein shakes for 3 weeks is very hard.  I promise no more cheating!

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Last Preop Surgical Visit

Jul 16, 2014

I just got home from the preop visit with my surgeon and my head is spinning.

Next, he told me the plan is to do the surgery laproscopically but to be prepared that they may need to do it open because of the level of repair work being done. My surgery is planned to take approximately 4 hours. They are planning also for it to be proximal but again, be prepared that it might be distal. He confirmed that I would be on a ventilator during surgery. He told me that they are putting in a g-tube so that they can hook up a feeding tube for 4-6 weeks. I'm also going to have a drain for 2-3 days. He also said to be assured that he will give pain meds as necessary, that I should be pretty much pain free.

His goal weight for me is 250 and I intend to lose much more than that. He did agree to order a home health aid for me for when I get home since I really don't have anyone else. He is also sending me home with lovenox shots. He had already signed the script for InsureNutrition so I will be getting free protein. I have medicare so I don't have to worry about a cap on my coverage. I signed the consent form. Oh, and he also ordered a stool softener so I don't have any issue with the iron I'm on.

So those are the details. I'm scared shitless because of the length of surgery and all the other stuff like the feeding tube (that was a real shock for me) and such. I'm excited about losing weight and I'm confident in my surgeon but it seems there is so much that can go wrong.

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31 Days to go

Jul 11, 2014

31 days until surgery and 9 days until I start the liquid diet. I'm trying to deal with my anxiety about the surgery. Yesterday the anesthesiologist said my surgery was "not typical" and told me that I'd be on a respirator during surgery and like last time, I may be on it post-surgery like last time. I have a lot of questions for the surgeon when I see him on Tuesday. I can't believe time is going by so quickly. I'm glad it has... I'm excited about it but I am also very worried. They are having two surgeons doing it because it's "complicated" and anesthesia told me yesterday that my surgery is "not typical" and that I will be put on a ventilator--- again. One part of the surgery is to correct an abnormal growth and the other part is to do a gastric bypass. I'm anxious about the first part of my surgery. I'm excited about the gastric bypass. I'm trying to focus on that but it's so hard. My BPD has me thinking of the other part of the surgery all the time.

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Date Moved Again

Jun 30, 2014

My surgery date got moved one last time.  Apparently, my fistula makes this a complicated surgery- so much so that they want two surgeons there and August 11 is the earliest they can do that.  I'm disappointed that I have to wait that long and I'm more than a little scared at this point because they said it was this serious but I also know that this pain, vomiting, and intolerance to solid foods has to end.  It's been so long since I've been able to eat normally for an RNY patient.  I wish I had someone to lean on but none of my kids live nearby and my husband is busy with his life (we're separated). 

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MY OFFICIAL SURGERY DATE!

Jun 27, 2014

OK, no tentative dates anymore.  The office called me today and gave me a date of August 4th but they called back this afternoon and I missed the call.  I checked on the website and my date is July 31st at 8 am.  I'm so excited now!  I start the liquid diet on July 15th.  I'm hoping it's not too hot those 2.5 weeks because I want to do my walking and I can't d1it if it's hot and humid.  I could take the bus to my gym though on a regular basis? I want to maximize my weight loss and adding in exercise to the liquid diet should give me some impressive results.

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Insurance APPROVED!

Jun 26, 2014

Yes!  I was approved today to have my surgery!  I called Dr. Gedeon's office and they told me I would have a date this afternoon or tomorrow morning for sure.  I'm so excited!!!  I can't wait to post my details and make it final for me.  I sort of feel like until it's posted, it's not real, LOL!  They told me they are trying for the 24th or the 28th pf July but it could be put off until the 4th of August.  I really hope I don't have to wait that long.  I have the shakes and vitamins and I am ready to go already!

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About Me
New Britain, CT
Location
48.9
BMI
Surgery
08/11/2014
Surgery Date
Jan 11, 2009
Member Since

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