kait8513

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

I am now 7 months out from surgery.  Have not had any more problems.  I have been eating fine and getting in lots of fluids and I am feeling really healthy!

I am down to 158 pounds which puts me at ALMOST 120 pounds lost, can't wait to hit 150....

My self- esteem has gone way up.  I look hot in skinny jeans and my husband thinks I am sexy!  I have so much more energy and love to go on bike rides and walks with my daughter (who turned 5 today:) .  She got roller skates for her birthday, so I am going to get a pair so we can go skating together.... if you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever go roller skating again I would have laughed at you!

Very excited for what may come :)

I had surgery on 2/6.  My mom drove me up and dropped me off.  I did all my stuff and they took me back pretty quick.  I started having some anxiety about surgery and possibly dying on the table.  I left a "just in case" note for my husband and daughter... I was asleep before they wheeled me to the OR.  When I woke up I was so weak.  I kept going in and out of consciousness.  I was finally able around midnight to get up and walk a bit.  The next day was better.  I walked a bunch and was ready to go home.  The two hour ride home hurt a little, but I was glad to be home.

I was okay for about 4 weeks.  Then I caught a bug my daughter brought home where we were all throwing up for a day or two.  After that my body gave up.  For 6 weeks I was unable to keep down food.  At first I was getting in my liquids, but after a few weeks they didn't want to stay down either.  I went to my local hospital and they gave me fluids and potassium-- they also did an X-ray with Barium and I did not have a stricture.  A week later I went back for more fluids and potassium.   After a few more days my mother put her foot down, came over to my house and drove me the two hours to Jacksonville back to the hospital I had surgery at.  She told me it was ridiculous.  I had been calling my doctor's office, but the first appt they could give me was three weeks from then. 

We waited in the ER lobby for a good 5-6 hours before we were taken back.  They decided around 2 am they were going to admit me and my mom left.  I was in the hospital for 11 days and I thought I was going to die.  They kept pushing off my procedures because my potassium was so low they didn't think my heart would survive anesthesia.  They said there was "slight narrowing" and did widen my throat although it did nothing to help my vomiting, nausea and dizziness.  My body got weaker...  I wasn't able to get to the bathroom by myself anymore.  I would get so dizzy I would throw up; I didn't have the muscle tone to walk anymore.  My husband came to visit twice, he brought my daughter the first time, but they said she wasn't allowed.  My Dad came once and my Mom came up three times.  I have always had bad veins, and then also being dehydrated they had a lot of problems sticking me.  They also had to draw blood constantly because of my low potassium... I was stuck over 50 times.  They sent people from the ER,the surgical unit, and anesthesia to try and stick me countless times.  They were giving me potassium and an anti-nausea medicne that would eat my veins and they would have to try and get a new IV everyday.  I was stucking my hands, wrists, arms, legs, feet, chest and neck.  I was told I need a picc line, but the doc's wouldn't put it in.  Then my Dad started calling the hospital and finally after 7 days of being hospitalized they put in the picc line that went in through an artery in my arm straight to my heart.  After that was put in On Friday after 10 days, my mom drove back up and got a little pushy with my doctors.  I started seeing double vision.  They sent a psychiatrist and optomitrest to see me.  The psychiatrist gave me some happy pills and anxiety meds and the optomitrest said he though my issues were from a  folic acid deficiency.  He said if he prescibes they IV drip it wouldn't hurt, but if it was the culprit we would get results fast.  As of 10 pm the nurses still had not gotten the go ahead to give me these meds (which were suggested at 4)... my Mom went a little nuts and made them call the doctors who gave the go ahead for the meds.  When I woke up the next morning I felt SO much better!  They released me that day... I was set home with a walker and I have been very weak, needing lots of help, but I am finally home with my family. 

Another positive.  I am two months out since surgery.  I have lost 85 pounds total, 70 since surgery.  My husband misses my boobs :)  But at this point he is happy I am alive and able to eat again!

I received a call from my sugeon's office last week... they moved my date up!  Only by a week but I am excited!  My new date is February 6th!  I have a pre-op appt with my surgeon and my pre-admission testing next week on 1/25 ( since I have to drive so far they planned it on the same day).  Since they changed my dates my husband cannot change his days off, so I will basically be on my own. My mom is going to take a day off to drive me up to Jacksoncille for my surgery, then my husband will come up the next day to pick me up and bring me home.... then he will be off to work the next day and I will be home alone while he works a 12-14 hour shift--- all I can say is THANK GOD for my neighbors (ahead of time, bc I know I will need them)


Trying to work my butt off during my internship to prove that I am worth more than all these days I will be absent!  Hoping it pays off and a job is somewhere in my future!!!  :)

So my last visit was a month ago and I was told I would get called with my surgery date and the date of the class I needed to take that discusses what happens in the hospital and what to expect when I get home.  I called their office four times last week before I finally got a call back.  She said that I need to come up for my seminar on Thursday (not much notice, I have a two hour drive) and that they are trying to schedule my surgery for Feb 13th.  WHAT?!?!?!  What happened to December?  I got the "sorry, the holidays, he is booked, etc, etc" speech.  But she said she would look into it.  No call back for another four days so I began my daily call again.... and no reply.  So when I went up on Thursday for this class I had to take, I sat in the office until someone got ahold of the person I needed.  She never came out and spoke with me, she relayed messages to me over the phone through another nurse in the office.   As of right now I am scheduled for Feb 13th (which is right in the MIDDLE of my senior internship) BUT if anyone cancels they will call me to fill the vacancy.

Ugh!  I do NOT wnat to miss my internship, but I want my surgery.  So I have already contacted all the people at my school.  They are all aware of my surgery date (although I am hoping someone cancels so I can be moved up) and my school has been so accepting, thank goodness!  So right now I am getting ready for the holidays.  I had hoped I would have surgery before Xmas and not hae to worry about the food I was making, but no such luck.  I am being alittle bad right now because I figure my two week pre-op liquid diet will take care of any extra pounds I may gain from now until then.... totally wrong philosophy, I know, but they have me stressed, and I am so a stressed eater--- I can't wait until foods make me sick, then I really won't eat them!!!

Happy Holidays!!!!  :)

So my life is always crazy and I have been slacking on my posts.  I had to have three months of supervised weight loss, medical clearances, psych clearances and blood work.  Everything went swimmingly.  My doctor wanted me to lose 20 pounds so he could do a single incision laproscopic procedure and I official lost 20.2 pounds at my pre-op appointment on 11/9. 

Now everything has been submitted to insurance and the dreaded waiting game begins.  My doctor doesn't forsee a problem, but I am still a little nervous.  He said it will take about 3-4 weeks until we get the approval.  During that time I will take a post-op nutrition seminar and will be assigned a tenative surgery date.  I am really hoping we can still get this done early in December so I do not have to miss any school come January!

My daughter is going through some things right now and I have a lot on my plate with her doctor appointment and therapists.  She was also just diagnosed with sleep apnea, so now we are waiting for an ENT and she will have to get surgery to remove her tonsils and adnoids.  I had it done when I was about her age, but it still scares me, she is my baby! 

I am constantly busy with school and my daughter's doctors so I am hoping it keeps my mind off the waiting!

On 8-26 I  had my appointment with the nutritionist.  She is, of course, a tall, leggy, gorgeous blonde, but she was so sweet and incredibly informative.  She gave me tons of information to take home with me and some good ideas and how to implement them.  She suggested using a website called myfirnesspal.com and it has been amazing.  It has really helped me log my food and plan my meals.

Since the doctor wants me to lose 20 pounds she suggested a high protein diet of 1400 calories a day.  She gave me great handouts with ideas of foods I can be eating and how many calories per meal.  I came out of there with a really good outlook and determination.  I have been so good I cannot believe it is me.  Now don't get me wrong, it is only a week now, but I am feeling good about myself.  With my internship for school starting this week, I have honestly not eaten enough, but I am feeling good.  I am getting around 1000-1200 calories a day and trying to eat healthy.  I usually ahve a protein bar in the morning, which is a huge improvement to my nonexistant breakfasts before.  I pack a nice lunch of meat, carrots, fruit and cheese to eat at school.  I usually have an apple or hundred calorie pack as a snack, and plan dinners with the help of the website to determine protion sizes.

I am also cutting back on the sodas.  Although I have always drank diet soda, therefore no calories, I know it is still not healthy, especially in the abundance I used to drink it.  I have gone down to two a day and I am so proud of myself.  I have one with lunch as a little boost and one around dinner time.  I am also pumping up the water.  I have always been an exclusively soda drinker (so not healthy, I know) so I am buying bottled water and it is great.  With me always on the go I just pack three bottles in my bags and I have them throughout the day.

Ironically, as I was driving to the nutritionists appointment I got a call setting up a pre-op appointment.  This is all starting to feel really real!  Ihave to have two more visits with my PCP, get my clearance from him, and have my psych evaluation, and my pre-op appointment is on November 9th!  The time is going to speed by because of my busy schedule.  My daughter's birthday is coming up and I can't wait for her party!  I just have to make sure I steer myself toward the fruit tray instead of the cakes! 

Feeling ready and anxious and can't believe the ball is finally rolling!

I am so excited for my NUT appointment on Friday, just hoping it doesn't get derailed by Hurricane Irene (oh the joys of living in FL!)... I have been so busy with school starting this week that the week has been flying by.  I am glad, because I want to see her NOW and get started! 

I have been a little "bad" this week.  Because I plan on devoting my time, energy and willpower to what the NUT tells me on Friday, I made my husband go out to eat a few times this week.  Not binging or anything, but I wanted to get in a few things that I #1 will NEVER eat again, and #2 won't eat for a looooooong time!  We definitely had Five Guys burgers and fries (love their fries) and had my Texas Roadhouse rolls.  I also had some snickers ice cream bars and got in some mexican.  I did not over endulge, or eat more than I normally do, but I am commited to make this work.  I don't want to cry in a few months that I never had that one last experience with McDonald's fries (also had that this week ;). 

Now that I have made my plans and started on my journey, I feel so much happier and in front of my husband I feel more confident and sure of myself... maybe because I finally have control over my life and weight again (even though we are still pre-surgery).  But I feel like at school and in public it is worse.  Maybe because I know this time next year I will be *hopefully* half the person I am now, it is hard to have to walk alongside my skinny friends.  I hate those little desks in the classrooms I have to squeeze myself into when every little toothpick in the room has a foot to spare.... I want to be them (ok, or close to it ;).  Ready for the rest of the time to fly by and get a surgery date.... then I will feel more confident and know that this is really truly happening!

School is going to kill me this semester.  I am looking over the syllabi for the 3 classes I am taking (10 credit hours) plus I have a part-time internship that I am going to have to do so much for.  I am already stressing, BUT on a positive note, the more I have to do, the less time I will have to eat :) and the faster time will fly by until December, when I am hoping to have surgery!!!! 

On that note, I have to get myself out the door and off to class, I do NOT like the hour or more drive to class (not fun), ironically, I love my two hour drive to my sugreons office though, go figure!  Can't wait until Friday!!!

I just got home from my first appointment and I am so excited!  First off I have to say I am so pleased with my surgeon and his office.  Everyone uses your name when addressing you, they all go out of their way to accomodate you.  The PA who saw me today was personable and nonjudgemental.  She also had RNY and answered questions and concerns I had.  The surgeon also came in to meet me and speak with me as well.

The PA gave me all the information I need and told me to lose 5-10 pounds before surgery.  I am thinking sweet, I am getting off so easy, THEN the doctor comes in and asks to see my belly (which my husband doesn't even see, mind you).  He feels around a bit and says, "do you think you can lose 20 pounds?"  ummmm..... "I guess???".  He said if I lose 20 pounds he should be able to do my surgery lapriscopically through one small incision in my belly button.  Not that I care if I have scars (I had a c-section for heaven's sakes), but it is still kind of cool! 

So the PA told me my first appointment with the nutritionist would count as a monthly PCP meeting, and I could start right away.  With that said, I made my appointment for next Friday with the nutritionist.  So my first month will be August!  SWEET!  I have to have 3 months of medically supervised weight loss, and from what I have read I am lucky it was not much more.  I also have to find a psychologist and have to get my blood work done, which I am finding is all completely normal.  Hopefully I can get in and get my bloodwork done next week and I will start hunting for a psychologist as well.  The sooner the better.  If August is my first of three months of supervised PCP visits, then I will be ready to submit paperwork in November!  It is perfect because I was really hoping to have surgery the beginning of December so I wouldn't miss any school! 

I am so excited right now.  Ready to see the nutritionist next week and get started!

So I got a call from the doctor's office today to schedule my first appointment!  I am excited!  I went to the seminar this past Friday (the 12th) and didn't expect them to contact me so soon, let alone schedule my first appointment for this Friday (the 19th)!!! 

I think my husband was shocked they called me so soon too.  He was expecting this to be something that took a year or so to actually go through with, and I am already going in for my consult!  I filled out the information packet for them online and I am ready to go!  I called my brother to babysit since my appointment is at 2:30 and it is over a two hour drive, so everything is set... now I just have to be patient until Friday!

Very excited to begin my journey.  Just having made the decision to get bariatric surgery has made me feel more confident!  I am so blessed to have the love and support of my husband!

Over the past 4 years I have been thinking about bariatric surgery.  Within the last few months I have started looking into the option.  Just this past week my husband and I traveled to Jacksonville to go to a seminar on bariatric surgery.  On the two hour car ride home we discussed what we had learned and both are invested in getting the surgery accomplished for me.  Hopefully I get a call this week to schedule my first appointment!!! 

I was a chunky kid, but during high school I started dancing and at 16 I was down to 115 pounds.  I was featured on modeling websites and dancing magazines, then my senior year I broke my back.  Because of the location of the break I was told that surgery would make me less mobile and the best option was to stop doing what hurt.  I had to step down from my position on my high school's very competitive color guard team.  I startyed gaining weight almost immediately.  I went away for my first year of ocllege and gained the freshman 50 instead of 15.  Throughout the next few years I struggled with anxiety, various health issues and a miscarriage... all the while my weight kept going up, up, up.  I was probably about 220 when I got pregnant with my daughter.  The weight I gained with my pregnancy never went away and she is now 4 years old and I am close to 270. 

We have been trying to have more children with no luck.  I feel like a bad wife and mother.  I want to be able to run around and play with my daughter, I want more children, and I want to be able to go out in public with my family without the feeling that every woman is giving me THAT look.  How did SHE score THAT guy.  And I love the people who ask me incredulously if THAT is MY husband.  And NO, I didn't trick him into marrying me.  I feel like I have let down my super hot husband who started dating a 120 pound sex goddess and now is married to a heffer, I feel likeI have let down my daughter who wants Mommy to play with her more, and most of all, I have let down myself.  Food is an addiction and it is comforting, and I am mostly to blame for the problems I have.  Now that I have gotten so big my back pain has gotten worse.  I can't even attempt to go to the gym to try and work out with my bad back and all this extra weight. 

I am so fortunate that I have a great support system.  My husband drove up to Jacksonville to attend the seminar with me and wants this to be a team effort.  He knows this will mean changes for everyone, and he is commited to helping and being supportive.  We also want to make this a positive change in our family.  Hopefully losing the weight will help us with our fertility issues and will help us teach our daughter and future children better habits.  My husband hopes I will regain some of the confidence I have lost over the years, and I hope so too!  Waiting patiently for my first appointment to be scheduled to see what I need to do to start my journey!