LisaDouglas
One Year Post Op and Down 120 lbs!!!
Mar 22, 2009
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have my surgery. Thanks Independent Health!! And my wonderful doctor, Dr. Caruana, and staff. Lisa Naylon is our amazing support group leader. My husband, sons, family and friends have been so sweet, supportive, encouraging and patient with me. They are all so important to me. And I love them so much and are grateful to all of them. Especially my husband and boys -- who have to listen to EVERYTHING I blab incessantly about and, yes, I even make them feel my muscles from time to time (yeah, that's getting old!!). My Cult -- the girls from the support group who I have gotten very close with -- what a gift they have been. We all know exactly what each other is going through. And we enjoy each other's company so much. Not to mention the clothing exchanges, book exchanges, cosmetic exchanges, etc. And the coffee ... and dinners.
Exercise ... I enjoy it so much. Who knew?? It feels so good to know I am getting stronger all the time, instead of sicker all the time, like before surgery. I exercise 4 to 5 times a week, for at least an hour each time. I have gotten off all meds (except I recently needed to go back on a water pill for slightly elevated BP) AND my cpap machine. That means off of one other blood pressure medication, off of asthma meds, antidepressant, even allergy meds!! One of my doctors said that losing this weight has completely changed my body chemistry and that's why I could get rid of all those meds. My primary (who was originally against the surgery) said I was making a believer out of him. He told the nurses (who then told me) that I should be the poster child for this surgery and that he has never seen a more motivated patient. I felt really good about that and vindicated!!!
My labs are all great, and I am diligent about taking all my vitamins and supplements. I know I will always be good about my follow-up care. And I know The Cult will make sure of that. That's another way we help each other.
Shopping, which was once a necessary evil, has become fun again. I used to just buy whatever I needed that I looked the least offensive in. That was all I could hope for ... not to look offensive. But now I can actually buy what I LIKE!! It's an amazing feeling ...
Can I tell you how great it feels to not be absolutely EXHAUSTED all the time? Just getting through a day before surgery was absolutely exhausting. I would come home from work (and mind you, I only worked part-time), and I'd be DONE. Sit around and watch t.v. the rest of the night ... throw in some laundry if I had to, order some dinner. Now I hardly watch t.v. There is always something better, more fun to do.
I pray that my surgeon and other competent surgeons out there continue to save and change the lives of others, like mine and my friends' lives have been changed. I thought I was happy and living a great life before ... and I was. I had wonderful people in my life who loved me just the way I was. But now it's so much better because I can do EVERYTHING I want to do with them ... not just the passive things that don't take too much energy. And I will be here a lot longer than I was going to be when I weighed 120 lbs more!
I know I've gone on and on here and been pretty braggy too. I don't mean to be. I just can't believe what has happened to me. It's another one of the many miracles in my life. Thank You, God ... I am so grateful.
Almost 10 weeks already ...
Jun 02, 2008
Last night my husband and I attended the Jim Kelly Charity Gala. I realized that this year I was not the biggest woman there. I almost cried. (Mind you, there are ALWAYS lots of very overweight MEN there, which is totally acceptable ... but the women were almost without exception fit and lovely). Although I am not quite fit yet, I did feel lovely ... and my husband said I looked beautiful (which he always did anyway). He also pulled me close to him and kissed me like three times during the evening. He is THE BEST!!
The Surgery and First Month 4/22/08
Apr 22, 2008
Okay. So I'm not a very conscientious blogger.
I had my surgery 4 weeks ago today. It seems so long ago. I was very nervous this time ... cried in the car on the way to the hospital. Although my logical head said everything would be okay, my emotional head said, "yeah, but what if ..." My husband, as always, was understanding and wonderful and helped talk me through it.
Once we got to the hospital, there was a lot of activity, so I didn't get too crazy then. But in the pre-op holding area, Dr. C came in and talked to me. I told him I was a little crazy and he reassured me ever so gently, holding my hand, telling me it was all going to be okay. And he was right!
I woke up in Recovery (with nobody telling me any bad news!). Felt no pain. Was relieved that it was over. I saw my GYN in there talking to one of her patients, and I called her over to tell her I had just had my Gastric Bypass surgery. I thanked her for encouraging me, because the last time I saw her I told her I was thinking about it and that my primary told me he was "not a proponant" of the surgery. She said, "So? He's not your daddy ... you don't have to listen to him." She told me about some patients she had that had great success with it. She told me how great the surgeon was that I was thinking about going with (Dr. C). She encouraged me to go for it if I thought it was the right decision. So she deserved a great BIG thank you.
Then on to my room -- in the "new bariatric wing of Sister's Hospital". It was VERY nice. A flat screen t.v.!! I don't even have one in my room at home!
They gave me about 10 minutes before it was time to "get up and go to the bathroom". I knew the drill and this time it was easier. I think because I knew that my guts were not going to pop open and fall on the floor, I moved more often and much easier. I was also walking the halls like ALL THE TIME.
Besides warding off the blood clots, I was pretty jittery for some reason and just couldn't lay there, thus all the walking. My dear husband stayed with me both nights and helped me with everything. He is so kind, gentle, giving and loving.
My mouth could not have been drier. Drinking only 1 oz. every 15 minutes was making me crazy. I needed about a gallon of water if I was going to get rid of this dryness in my mouth. Then I was paranoid about not drinking enough. I was afraid to take a nap because I was worried about falling behind on my drinking.
I had the popsicle test. Passed it. And LOVED the popsicle.
The care I received at the hospital was really quite good. I think it helped that my husband was there to do a lot, though.
I couldn't wait to go home. I had the surgery on Tuesday and got to come home on Thursday. I was still very anxious (jittery) at home, though. Had to call Dr. C and ask for a script for something so I could rest. It helped A LOT! I only needed it for a couple of days, but it really helped me.
I was on my clear liquids at first, but within a few days I was able to go to full liquids. The stages went quickly. Soon I was on soft (Marc said to skip puree, just chew, chew, chew). That worked. I ate super slowly and chewed the heck out of it. Nothing made me sick. Although at my first eating out experience (Red Lobster), at about 2 1/2 weeks out, I think I ate too many grilled shrimp (4 little ones) and it "sat" right there in my throat for a while. Which, of course, made me nervous. I called my friend Marie, who is a few months further out, and she said that's what it was, and it would pass. Have some hot tea. I did and it really helped.
Anyway, I've been out a few times since then and have not had any problems. And, I'm happy to say, it is STILL an enjoyable experience for me, which I was worried about.
So today, which is 4 weeks since the date of surgery, I am down 27.5 lbs. I feel GREAT. I can't wait to see the numbers go down, down, down.
(Having just re-read all of this, I noticed I was "worried" and/or "nervous" a lot!!! I am not usually that person!)
Tomorrow is THE DAY!!
Mar 24, 2008
Yikes -- that came fast! Easter Sunday was my Last Supper. My husband made a wonderful traditional ham dinner at his parents' house for them, our family and some of his siblings and their families. It was absolutely yummy. Today I went for breakfast with my best friend. Then off to do a bunch of last minute stuff to make me very tired so I will sleep tonight, despite the nerves. I'm feeling like I could sleep already and it's only 3:35 p.m.
Funny thing happened at Target where I was buying all my last-minute stuff. I had a lot of sample sizes of shampoo, q-tips, toothpaste, etc. The lady in line behind me said, "Oh, somebody's going on a trip." I said, "No, it's for the hospital." Which must have scared her -- and she said, "Oh, I hope it's nothing serious." So then I ended up telling her it was good surgery -- I was going for GBS. She said, "Oh, I'm thinking of doing it too. I have my psych appt. with Dr. So-and-So." (Which is the shrink I had to go to.) And I said, "Will your surgeon be Dr. Caruana?" She said, "Yes ...".
Isn't that crazy -- that the day before my surgery I just happen to bump into a stranger that is going to the same doc for the same thing??
Well, I better get back to it. Still lots of things to get to.
And I want to have a little time to hang with my wonderful husband and my beautiful son. (The other beautiful son is on a Spring Training trip in Florida with his college baseball team. But at least I'll get to talk to him tonight.). I love those guys so much ... all three of them.
Okay. We're gonna do this ... 3/8/08
Mar 08, 2008
The Surgery 10/18
Oct 27, 2007
You probably all know what happened ... but if anyone missed the excitement, here's the story.
I went in for my Open RNY Thurs., 10/18. Was a little nervous, but mostly excited. Came out of anesthesia in Recovery to Dr. C telling me they did not do the bypass, that they found metastatic cancer on my liver, they biopsied that and my pancreas (since they were in the neighborhood) and also removed my gallbladder. He said we would need to figure out where the cancer originated and I would need treatment. Wow -- that was unexpected. I tried not to freak out.
My husband, sons, family and friends and a dear nun at the hospital loved me more than I had ever imagined and kept me calm until we could find out what exactly we were dealing with. The love I felt that day was incredible.
The next day Dr. C said the pathologist went through everything again and determined it was a benign liver tumor (a hamartoma). Mimics a cancer cell but is not dangerous. What?? Thank You, God. I felt like I had been given a Death Row Pardon. We were overjoyed and are forever grateful.
He said they recommend I get a CT scan of the Abdomen and Pelvis, which I did, and they were clear. Then he said we should take the biopsy slides and CT scans to Roswell and get confirmation. But no one expects any bad news. I go to Roswell on Nov. 7.
Dr. C said if I want to have the bypass, we should wait until sometime after the first of the year, so I can heal from this surgery.
We'll see ... can't really think about having surgery again right now.
Again, thanks to all of you. There are AMAZING people here on these Boards. Special love and thanks to Anne S (AnneS2bthin) and Christina (Catchris).
August 24, 2007 -- Rescheduled
Aug 24, 2007
APPROVED!! (added 8/3/07)
Aug 05, 2007
So now I wait for Dr C's office to call (hopefully today). I guess you can't mess with their procedures -- don't call them, they'll call you. Anyway, I know now that I'm approved, so I guess I can wait. YEAH!!!!
July 24, 2007 -- Saw Dr. C Today
Jul 24, 2007
July 23, 2007 -- First Consult Tomorrow!
Jul 23, 2007
Anyway, here's my story. I'm 45 years old. Married to a fantastic man for more than 20 years. We have 2 beautiful and wonderful sons. I have been so blessed with this family and life. I want to be around to enjoy it all. That will not happen if I don't FINALLY get this weight under control. My BMI is 47, and I have a bunch of co-morbs -- hbp, sleep apnea, very close to being diabetic, back problems, no energy, etc. I've been various degrees of fat most of my adult life. This is close to my all-time high.
Tomorrow I have my first consult with Dr. Caruana. I'm excited, nervous, hopeful ... all kinds of emotions.
