Julia K.
Julia Kilgore
| Julia Kilgore Surgery date scheduled - BMI: 42.0 Surgery Type: Duodenal Switch Member ID: K1084993755 Contact: Click here to send a Personal Message Surgeon: John C. Alverdy M.D. |
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I have been in the throws of the "Battle of the Bulge" for all too long as most of us have. Two and half years ago I began to have some difficulty breathing while walking from the parking lot to my office at the University of Chicago. I had been having problems and was looking for a new doctor. Since I am on campus 5 days a week, I decided to look there before looking closer to home. I found a wonderful Primary Care Physician and she began to put me through the tests. She is the first one to mention that I should consider WLS. Up until that time, I thought surgery was only for those with 100's of pounds to loose. Of course I am now classified as MO and that mortified me to hear those words. However, I still refused to think about it, but as the months progressed and my health has done nothing but deteriorate, I was reintroduced to a very old friend. She had gone through WLS for the second time and look great. She talked to me a great length about it and recommend I come here to OH for research. Well, I have been working on this for a year now and today I got a call from Dr. Alverdy's nurse wanting to schedule my surgery. I am so nervous,but I know this is the only answer. I am almost 53 years old and I am raising one of my granddaughters. I want to be the best I can for her and for my other 12 grandchildren. Life is supposed to be the best after 50, and I want it to be the best it can be.
UPDATE: February 14,2005 Happy Valentines day to everyone. My first phone call this morning when I got into work was from my surgeons office. They received the letter of approval last week and I have been scheduled for surgery on Monday, March 28 at 9:30 am. I don't know if I am nervous, excited or scared, but I will have to put all those emotions into God's hands and count on Him taking me through. I know there is so much to do at home and work before I go. The first thing I have to do is have a long talk with my DH, Richard. He is not going to be easy, but I know he will be right there for me. Then I have to let work know I will be gone for six week.s They aren't going to like that either, but they will survive. I have a great team that works for me.
UPDATE: March 14,2005 Only 10 days away for this life-changing surgery. I haven’t shared my plans with anyone except my DH. I have been trying to figure out how to let two of my daughters know I won’t be coming to their house for Easter this year because something came up. Well, that would never do so I guess I will let them know I will be having a little surgery Good Friday. Since they are all accountants and in the middle of busy season, I can only hope they will take it at face value and stay home. I really don’t want any fuss.
UPDATE: March 2 2005, I’m home and glad to be here! Surgery seemed to go without any problems. Dr. Alverdy had to do a hand assist because of scar tissue, but other than that, everything is fine. My blood pressure is back to its normal/low readings, my sugar is normal, no more pain. I can’t believe that! The pain I have lived with for 20 years is gone. I don’t know where it went, but it is totally gone. My DH and granddaughter are home this week because of a pre-planned vacation and spring break at school. I hadn’t planned on this, but the timing couldn’t be better. Morgan, my granddaughter is taking such good care of me. What a joy. My youngest daughter surprised my Sunday in the hospital with a visit with the twins. I really didn’t want them traveling so far when their jobs keep them so busy right now, but it was a nice surprise to seem my baby with her babies. Those little guys are such a miracle. My daughter that lives near us has been very supportive and quite a help. I love watching my girls take care of their dad. One of my goals in life was to make sure our daughters had a close relationship with their dad. I wanted them to love and respect him as I did my Father. If I have accomplished anything good, that is it. They love him and they make sure he is okay.
UPDATE: April 7, 2005 I thought the world was coming to an end a few days ago. I couldn’t stand up, I couldn’t even help myself go to the bathroom. My granddaughter had to help me totally and in the middle of the night, my DH had to help. We are very private people and bathroom time is private time, but when the need was there, the love in his heart and eyes were worth millions. God is so good to show me over and over how blessed I am to have Richard. I went into Dr. Alverdy’s office yesterday and the pain was a muscle spasm that wouldn’t release. They had to take me to xray for a scan to make sure there wasn’t a blockage or leak. I couldn’t move from the chair to the table. This very strong young man, picked me up in his arms and cradled me onto the table. All the while telling me he wouldn’t drop me. I couldn’t believe it! He must be kin to superman. Anyway, they gave me a strong muscle relaxer and I slept the rest of the night. The pain is gone and I am back on track.
UPDATE: April 13, 2005 It has been two weeks. I went in to have the drain removed and showed them where the incision of the hand assist had just started leaking overnight. They immediately called Dr. Alverdy in to look and he said he needed to open it and drain it. Now that was scary and I wasn’t at all sure, except it was kind of yellow and hard all around the incision. What to do? So, he opened it up and put this vacuum like thing in my side and irrigated me and sucked out the excess. I will now have a home nurse come twice a day to repack the incision. Wow, I have never had anything like this and I don’t know how this will interfere with my returning to work next week, but I am going to try. Oh, I have lost 15 pounds. Life is good.
UPDATE: May 13,2005 It’s been a month since my last update. My clothes are getting big and I will have to look at a few things I have stored downstairs. I went back to work after being off for three weeks. I am a little tired, but all in all doing great. I don’t always get enough food in, but I guess it will come. I have a wedding this weekend and I am wearing a dress that I haven’t been able to wear in about 8 years.
UPDATE: June 13, 2005 A lot has happened in a month. My mother, who has been in a nursing home with later stages of Alzheimers, died on the 20th. She had turned 80 on her last birthday. God is good and granted her her long time wish of dying in her sleep. My youngest sister and I were there. Her heart was racing a mile a minute. In fact it continued to beat for about 10 minutes after she stopped breathing. She just kept running until she was home. I know she is home by the expression on her face. She had her happy smile on and was so peaceful. I know the moment her heart stopped she saw the face of her Lord and Savior, Jesus and my dad standing right next to him with arms open wide. He has been waiting for his childhood sweet heart for 36 years and they are finally together. My youngest daughter also lost a baby during this time so that is three now in heaven. I know my mom and dad along with my in-laws are spoiling them rotten. Richard went in for surgery on his left arm to repair a torn rotator cuff. We seem to be doing everything together this year. I has been fun taking care of him.
UPATE: July 13, 2005 We have had a very busy summer with physical therapy and my getting used to all the changes. We went to my cousins cottage over the 4th and I was able to really enjoy the water and boating and ski-dooing for the first time in about 25 years. What fun! We are getting ready for our big vacation to Colorado Springs. I am so excited to see the mountains and be able to do all the things that are planned.
UPDATE: February 14,2005 Happy Valentines day to everyone. My first phone call this morning when I got into work was from my surgeons office. They received the letter of approval last week and I have been scheduled for surgery on Monday, March 28 at 9:30 am. I don't know if I am nervous, excited or scared, but I will have to put all those emotions into God's hands and count on Him taking me through. I know there is so much to do at home and work before I go. The first thing I have to do is have a long talk with my DH, Richard. He is not going to be easy, but I know he will be right there for me. Then I have to let work know I will be gone for six week.s They aren't going to like that either, but they will survive. I have a great team that works for me.
UPDATE: March 14,2005 Only 10 days away for this life-changing surgery. I haven’t shared my plans with anyone except my DH. I have been trying to figure out how to let two of my daughters know I won’t be coming to their house for Easter this year because something came up. Well, that would never do so I guess I will let them know I will be having a little surgery Good Friday. Since they are all accountants and in the middle of busy season, I can only hope they will take it at face value and stay home. I really don’t want any fuss.
UPDATE: March 2 2005, I’m home and glad to be here! Surgery seemed to go without any problems. Dr. Alverdy had to do a hand assist because of scar tissue, but other than that, everything is fine. My blood pressure is back to its normal/low readings, my sugar is normal, no more pain. I can’t believe that! The pain I have lived with for 20 years is gone. I don’t know where it went, but it is totally gone. My DH and granddaughter are home this week because of a pre-planned vacation and spring break at school. I hadn’t planned on this, but the timing couldn’t be better. Morgan, my granddaughter is taking such good care of me. What a joy. My youngest daughter surprised my Sunday in the hospital with a visit with the twins. I really didn’t want them traveling so far when their jobs keep them so busy right now, but it was a nice surprise to seem my baby with her babies. Those little guys are such a miracle. My daughter that lives near us has been very supportive and quite a help. I love watching my girls take care of their dad. One of my goals in life was to make sure our daughters had a close relationship with their dad. I wanted them to love and respect him as I did my Father. If I have accomplished anything good, that is it. They love him and they make sure he is okay.
UPDATE: April 7, 2005 I thought the world was coming to an end a few days ago. I couldn’t stand up, I couldn’t even help myself go to the bathroom. My granddaughter had to help me totally and in the middle of the night, my DH had to help. We are very private people and bathroom time is private time, but when the need was there, the love in his heart and eyes were worth millions. God is so good to show me over and over how blessed I am to have Richard. I went into Dr. Alverdy’s office yesterday and the pain was a muscle spasm that wouldn’t release. They had to take me to xray for a scan to make sure there wasn’t a blockage or leak. I couldn’t move from the chair to the table. This very strong young man, picked me up in his arms and cradled me onto the table. All the while telling me he wouldn’t drop me. I couldn’t believe it! He must be kin to superman. Anyway, they gave me a strong muscle relaxer and I slept the rest of the night. The pain is gone and I am back on track.
UPDATE: April 13, 2005 It has been two weeks. I went in to have the drain removed and showed them where the incision of the hand assist had just started leaking overnight. They immediately called Dr. Alverdy in to look and he said he needed to open it and drain it. Now that was scary and I wasn’t at all sure, except it was kind of yellow and hard all around the incision. What to do? So, he opened it up and put this vacuum like thing in my side and irrigated me and sucked out the excess. I will now have a home nurse come twice a day to repack the incision. Wow, I have never had anything like this and I don’t know how this will interfere with my returning to work next week, but I am going to try. Oh, I have lost 15 pounds. Life is good.
UPDATE: May 13,2005 It’s been a month since my last update. My clothes are getting big and I will have to look at a few things I have stored downstairs. I went back to work after being off for three weeks. I am a little tired, but all in all doing great. I don’t always get enough food in, but I guess it will come. I have a wedding this weekend and I am wearing a dress that I haven’t been able to wear in about 8 years.
UPDATE: June 13, 2005 A lot has happened in a month. My mother, who has been in a nursing home with later stages of Alzheimers, died on the 20th. She had turned 80 on her last birthday. God is good and granted her her long time wish of dying in her sleep. My youngest sister and I were there. Her heart was racing a mile a minute. In fact it continued to beat for about 10 minutes after she stopped breathing. She just kept running until she was home. I know she is home by the expression on her face. She had her happy smile on and was so peaceful. I know the moment her heart stopped she saw the face of her Lord and Savior, Jesus and my dad standing right next to him with arms open wide. He has been waiting for his childhood sweet heart for 36 years and they are finally together. My youngest daughter also lost a baby during this time so that is three now in heaven. I know my mom and dad along with my in-laws are spoiling them rotten. Richard went in for surgery on his left arm to repair a torn rotator cuff. We seem to be doing everything together this year. I has been fun taking care of him.
UPATE: July 13, 2005 We have had a very busy summer with physical therapy and my getting used to all the changes. We went to my cousins cottage over the 4th and I was able to really enjoy the water and boating and ski-dooing for the first time in about 25 years. What fun! We are getting ready for our big vacation to Colorado Springs. I am so excited to see the mountains and be able to do all the things that are planned.
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Member Interests:
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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: John C. Alverdy M.D.
Dr. Alverdy and his staff have been great. I am looking forward to proceeding with my surgery.
Insurer Info:
University of Chicago, University of Chicago Health P
