Jean Ann T.

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Well, I'm on the loser's bench now.

Still in a little pain, but I'm trying not to take too many meds for every little tinge I feel.

I did upload some surgery day and day after pics. Looks like I have a nice smiley face in dashes around my mid section.

Gotta get more batteries for the scales so I can update my ticker!

Thanks for all your well wishes and all that good stuff!

Jat

Today was the first day of my 4 days of CLEAR liquids!

Went to Discount Sports Nutrition and got some IsoPure to ease me through it. Too bad there was no roast beef with potato and carrot flavor! LOL

My family doc said fasting like this is good for you from time to time, I don't see how it could do any GOOD.. took everything I had not to turn into McD's for a Happy Meal after seeing some kids with them at the flag football game this afternoon! I'm usually not THAT hungry hahaaa!

I have some sugar free/decaf iced tea made. Just made some jello for in the morning (Cherry). Should be ok.. I hope! I just hope I can stay busy and keep my energy level up with liquids, that's kind of concerning me.

Tomorrow, I'm going to my dad's for a visit. I'll just go before lunch or something. Might not stay that long. The longer I stay, the more I want to snack! LOL Hard to stop habits like that, but if this is going to work, I have to!

I'm ready for surgery to get here already... 4 days and counting!! I'm adding some "before" pics we took today. Clothed, don't worry! LOL

I got an iPod from a friend of mine, I've been loading it up. I have one movie on it, so maybe I can see that in the hospital between pokes. It's going to be my new walking partner!

I'm kind of looking forward to a couple of weeks off work, too. Just hope I don't forget EVERYTHING! Out of sight, out of mind. I just hope I can turn off the urge to get up so early in the mornings (at least for a while).

Got a message from my friend, Michelle, on OH.com. She's doing good after her surgery. I hope I do as well. I know it's going to be slow, but it's just worth it.

I met another friend at work today, Marta, she's a year out as of August 22nd (or there about). She's doing good.. she told me my 2 week recovery time might be a bit impossible. She said more like 6 weeks... which is ok. I just hate to think of being miserable for the whole time I'm out of work.

I know I'll be fine, though. Maybe a bit uncomfortable, but this is all WORTH IT!

It really is important to have friends and family around you at this time, both before and after surgery. I know it's going to make things MUCH easier!

This past Monday, Leesa and I attended one of Dr Gorospe's support group meetings. I think we're going to have to go back.. it was a little late for Leesa, maybe I'll go alone, though. We had fun, hearing all the stories and having a chance to ask questions and such.

It's amazing what Prevacid can do! YUP YUP!

We just got back from eating TexMex here in Tulsa. Usually, this would have been followed with a beeline to the house to camp out in the bathroom for me, but today's a different story! We went to Best Buy, Lowe's... I came home and unclogged the tub drain and patched a couple of holes in the floor (compliments of the new puppy). Stomach is STILL not bothering me!

I had NO idea I had a problem with my stomach like that, but I guess with the EGD the other day, the doctors could see it. YEAH for pre-testing!

You're supposed to let the Prevacid disintigrate, but I can't stand to do it, so I just swallow mine. I guess it's ok... still working and all! Well, looking at the box just now, I guess you ARE supposed to swallow them, not chew! LOL OOPSIES! I chewed the first one. Just because they're called SoluTab doesn't mean chew... DUH!

Guess it pays to read the directions, huh? hahaa

I've successfully caught this crap that's going around. Probably at the hospital the other day.. I'm stuffed up, sneezy. Feels like the flu kind of. I hate being sick! Good thing it doesn't happen much!

OK, woke up late this morning.. but still on time for my EGD. Things went well. I was able to gargle the nasty gel-like stuff to numb my gag reflex. I'd swished it around for about 25 seconds and the guy said something like "I want you to be able to swallow that." So... I did.. Right then! I kept trying to signal with my hand like 'right now?' and I guess they didn't get it.. but they sure did once I gulped it down and smiled. LOL oops!

It was ok, the stuff did it's job. I went into the OR with the attending surgeon, Dr Kirk. What a NICE guy! Felt like I was with my Dad, really! hehee He's got a great manner! The nurses were awesome, they did my IV without any problem, even in my left hand! I believe her name was Natalie.

They wheeled me into the recovery room... drunk. yes! LOL I think I was acting a bit silly. My mouth was SUPER dry. Like my tongue had been botoxed or something! LOL It was a sight to see, I'm sure! My eyes were dry.. everything that was supposed to produce some kind of fluid WASN'T. They'd given me something, not really sure why, but it dries up the mucous producing membranes. Bleh! Don't care to do that again, although I'm sure they will during surgery.

Dr Kirk took a biopsy of my stomach. Not a big deal, he says he can count on two hands, the times it comes back positive... and they've done this A LOT! So I knew I'd be ok. So now, we're waiting on that to come back.

He also told me I have acid reflux?!? News to me! So now, I'm on Prevacid. I went and picked up that and my B-12 shots and Metanex, my oral B-12, later today. Just glad I have insurance, that's all I can say about that!

I took off all day, but probably could have gone back to work about noon. Kind of stinks I missed out on 12 hour today! Oh well, it was nice weather.

Next step is actually a consultation with Dr Kirk. I think I was supposed to do that before the EGD, since I had never met him face to face, but at least I'm getting this stuff done! After that, SURGERY!!!!



Oh yeah, Dr Kirk found a hernia I didn't know I had. Thank goodness for all these pre-tests! I've found out a lot of things I didn't know about myself!

I have the most wonderful partner I could ever ask for!

Last night, I got home from work about 7:30p, I was met at the door by a smiling, beautiful woman and two mutts. I was given a small, cold bottle containing a "5 hour shot"... an energy drink? Thanks.. lol I knew we were going out, but NOW?? So I drank it and walked on into the house. All cleaned up, everything perfect! She'd worked all day on the cleaning the house up and it looks wonderful!

Got to the computer room to check my mail, petting the dogs along the way and chatting... She fetched me a beer while I checked my mail and email. After that was finished, Leesa asked me to get in the shower and we'd go out last night. Ok, I've been at work all day, but I'm not dirty... so I said I wasn't going to shower. OK... a look of distress comes over her face. I guess she REALLY wanted me to shower? Hmm...

She then gives me this look like she's going to BURST!

I go to sit down on the bed.. all this is just confusing me a bit. LOL

She's planned a gathering for me to celebrate my gastric surgery!!!! OMG! I don't think ANYone has EVER planned a party FOR me and WITHOUT me knowing! AMAZING! People started showing up shortly after 8pm!

We were short a few people, but everyone came over, we ROCKED out playing Guitar Hero. She even contacted a friend of mine from WORK and she came out for a while! Meant a lot to me.

NO one's ever done anything like this for me FOR ME! :)

Yup, I'm one happy girl today (sans the dehydration from the beers) heheee

I know, I should have drank last night.. it's bad for me, it's not responsible when it comes to weight, but THAT was my LAST party pre-surgery. It was fun, we didn't OVER do it... JUUUUUUUST right! I got a kick butt cake, too, which I am about to go have a piece with some nice coffee for breakfast. (again, not good, but it's my LAST party like this)

I definitely felt the love! Love of friends and the people who care about me. Some people couldn't make it and that's ok, I know they would have come if they could have!

I put a couple of the pics in my Photos... have a look!

That was fun... strange, but interesting really.

Today was my cardio stress test. They can do it two ways, hop on the treadmill, or give you a chemical that makes your heart speed up... thanks, but I'll be the one on the treadmill. Actually, I wasn't given the option, even though I have a fused ankle.

I got there and they put in an IV for the radioactive stuff. When they injected it, I could taste it! It was like when you used to get new cassette tapes and the smell they had right out of the wrapper. BLEH!   THEN, back to the waiting room for 20 minutes...   THEN, I got to lay on this table with my arms above my head while this thing circled my chest. Got kind of close, but I don't freak out about that.   The chick came to get me for an ultrasound. She was astounded by my vast knowledge of the heart. Hey, when your mom passes away from a BAD heart, you want to know what's going on, ya know?   Then, I got to go back to the waiting room for 20 minutes again...   The stress test, finally. They wanted my heart up around 145, well, they got 160, even better.I seriously thought I was going to die. The first speed/incline wasn't all that bad. It was about the pace I'd go walking around the river... then it sped up and TIPPED up more! WHEW! Man was I glad it didn't take long after that.

The whole time the little test guy was talking to me, I was able to talk for about the first 4 minutes, but couldn't after a while. I guess that's where they want you to get, though.  I think I was on it for about 5:45 before he stopped it. MAN! I felt like I'd just been chased by an axe murderer!
  Another 20 minute "let your heart rate go down" wait in the waiting room... all huffy and puffy and people looking at me like "OMG I'm next!" LOL!
  THEN... Yet another chance to lay down and have a big, heavy machine put around my chest for more pics. My heart had slowed to about 90, where it was when I walked in, but I still felt a little winded. Maybe it was just something in the air. I did notice they had asthma inhalers everywhere.. that was good to know, but I didn't need one.
  I sure hope they let me see my results! This wasn't covered under insurance and I had to pay up front (which I did NOT know). *sigh*   I go back Sept 2nd for the results, then have my EGD on Friday... anyone not working Friday? I need a driver! :) *cheese*

I was just looking at the rest of my appointments, they're all on Tuesdays. Do doctors not WORK on Mondays? (Mon and Tues are my days off)

Still have a great looking bruise from the AGB site, but it's not that bad. This coming Tuesday is my stress test for my heart.. just hope they don't find anything that's going to delay or cancel my surgery.

I think I'm pretty darn healthy and don't really think they will find something, but my mother passed from a heart attack at 42. I think that's kind of a concern for them.

Got my approval for short term disability today in the mail. Looks like everything's on track!

One bit of advice... when you get your packet from your doctor... READ IT! And get started on everything ASAP (FMLA.. all that good stuff).

I also got the deposit for the surgery out of the way this past week. I paid down my CapOne card just for this reason. I also got my APR lowered to 1/2 of what it was! (you really should call!) LOL

Everyone at work is really excited for me! I can't wait until next MONTH!

I guess they're happy now... got my blood, breath, and some really risqué photos of me with no clothes on at Dr G's place now...LOL!

The chick came to get me, sat me down and stuck me! Not too bad, but my arm kind of aches now. Maybe it's all in my head.

She then took me to another room where she had me hold my breath and blow so much I was a bit woozie.

Then I had my chest x-ray... which was over before I even thought it started!

Glad to have that over with.

The next appointment: Stress test next Tuesday, the 26th. Now that really sounds like fun to me!

Wonder if I can write off all of these copays I'm payin'!!!! (found out that if the copays are 7.5% of your AGI, you can! Gotta get a calculator after the receipts!)

Ok, so I just got off the phone with Lise from Dr Gorospe's office! We scheduled MOST of my appointments for my surgery. Got the lungs, heart, EGD, and another consult with the assisting surgeon. My head is spinning! I'm SO glad they could schedule all this for me, I was stressing a bit about all that.

I'll still get a couple of calls for pre-surgery stuff from the hospital, but the hard part is over!

I'm going to need a ride for one of the appointments.. hmm... It's on a Friday and that's my long 7a-7p day at work. Hmm.. might go in after the test or something. Just because I can't drive doesn't mean I can't work, right? LOL

So here goes! Not turning back now!

We're already talking about going to Disney again next summer, it's going to be a great trip!

I think I've texted just about everyone in my phone! LOL! EEK! Might just start emailing... it's free(er) hahaa

OMG OMG OMG!