New Life begins 2/23/09

Feb 22, 2009

What a long journey the last 2 years has been, well actually, even longer than that.
July 2006 we went to Minnesota for a big family reunion type party.  My avatar picture was taken there.
When we got home and I saw the pictures I decided - I HAVE to do something about this. I can't keep living this way.
I had been considering bariatric surgery for many years - more specifically the Lap Band.  I happened to have a physical scheduled in early Sept so I had decided to ask my doctor about it.  Then as I'm getting ready for my surgery an infomercial was on - and it was for the Lap Band!  I said - ok - this must be a sign!  Its time!!!
So I saw my doctor and he was all for it.  He said he would give me any referrals I needed, etc.
I went online and did some research and saw that I had to see a nutritionist, so I made an appt for a nutritionist in Albany.  I saw her and she told me before the surgeon will even see me I have to do a list of things (Sleep study, cardiology, pulmonary, psychologist, etc consults). I made all my appointments and started going to support groups (mandatory 2 groups before and after surgery with Albany Med).  At my first group I found out I have to enroll in the program at Albany Med as well, so I did that.
I was put on a 1200 calorie diet and I followed it to the T!  I quickly lost my 10% (had lost it by December) and when I went to the classes we had to go to I got my surgery date!  March 21, 2007!
So fast forward to that surgery....
I got home, and immediately started feeling pain in the general area of my port.  I also tried sleeping in my bed, but ended up pulling a muscle, so that just exacerbated my pain.  I went to see the surgeon and kept mentioning the pain, but he figured it was just normal healing kind of pain and held off on any fills for about 5 months.  I still was having the pain, but had no restriction, so I NEEDED a fill.  I was trying to exercise, but any abdominal exercises were leaving me in such pain that it would take a week to recover.  So I suffered for over 6 months, and then said to the surgeon - I can't exercise - the band is worthless without exercise - I NEED you to go in there and see what is wrong.  After months of being poo-poohed he agreed, so surgery was set for 1/2/08.  He went in and found that my sutures had popped and the port was completely flipped.  He reattached the port, did some lipo to the area to keep it from getting in the way, and told me 4-6 weeks before any abdominal exercises.  I waited EIGHT weeks, and almost immediately started feeling the same pain.
Went to see him again about 4 months afterward, and told him I think it flipped again.  He says, "No, its secure, do you want a fill?"  I said fine, but I think I'm going to need this band removed - I can't keep living like this.  He tries to do a fill, and can't find the port.  His words - "Its rolling".  Umm - yea - a secure port "rolls"
So we made an appt to do the fill under flouro, all the while I'm thinking I'm DONE with this.  I can't keep having multiple surgeries to fix the d*mned port!
So I went in to see him, he said ok, we will remove the band, and then 6 weeks later we will do the RNY for you.  However you need letters of support from your primary and nutrition.  So I went and got my letter and discussed it with my boss.  My idea - have the port removed 10/08 and then bypass over Christmas break.
My boss requested I wait a little longer - from Thanksgiving to Christmas is our busiest time.  So I agreed to put it off until January.
So surgery was scheduled for 1/5/09 to remove the band, and then 2/23/09 for the RNY conversion.
12/30/08 was my pre-op appt.  During the routine testing they found I had gallstones (you know - which now that I think about it explains a few things).  So I talked to the surgeon and he said you can have the gallbladder removed with the band, or wait until Feb.  My first thought - wait until Feb.  He then said tho - then you risk having a gallstone attack, which could need emergency surgery - so I sighed, and said Ok - then take it out on 1/5.
So we did - I had my band and gallbladder removed on 1/5/09.  It was to date the EASIEST recovery from surgery I had.
I was bopping around on Drugstore.com and discovered I could have a reclining lift chair charged to my flex spending, so I decided to do it.  After sleeping in an armchair for many weeks during the past surgeries I KNEW I needed something different after my RNY surgery.  SO now I have my chair - all ready for me when I get home from the hospital this week.
So this brings me to tomorrow- tomorrow 2/23/09 I'm having the laproscopic RNY gastric bypass surgery done.
I'm really not too nervous - mostly excited!!!
When I think about it - I originally went with the Lap Band (against the opinion of my nutritionist) I wanted it because it was "less invasive".  I wasn't prepared for anatomical changes, for re-routing of intestines, etc.
However now - I have had THREE surgeries all for the Lap-Band.  Who knows - if I had the RNY from the beginning maybe I would have avoided months and months of pain, and the multiple surgeries??
So I go in to my surgery with the full knowledge that - YES - it will be painful, YES - recovery will be hard - but in the long run - I'm sure it will ALL BE WORTH IT!

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