Christin S.

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Work is busy, saw my doctor today for the 3 week post-op.  Of course, add the 5lbs that clothes add to it and my scale is pretty accurate.  I wore a long sleeved shirt today because our A/C at work is cranking out some serious cold air, thicker than usual pants and my heavy tennis shoes because I need to be steady on my feet... I didn't think that I should dress lightly to see more weightloss!  hahaha

Well, its about right on.

Here is what was discussed:

    * my incisions have healed nicely, the one that is still open is nearly closed and I only use a bandaid now he said, I no longer need to attempt to pack it.  AWESOME!
    * I don't have to worry about taking my vitamins religiously until I'm 3 months out he said since I'm having such a hard time taking them and the fruity taste/smell is making me sick.  He said by then I will be able to take an actual pill, so I don't have to worry about chewing it up.  He also said the same with protein. He said by 3 months I should have my intake up, but not too stress about it at this point.
    * I have to stay on soft foods for another 3 weeks he said.  At 6 weeks post-op the 'connections' will have healed as well as they will be, so I can start to introduce 'normal' foods. He said it will be a test to see what is tolerated, etc.
    * I have to look out for stricture, especially when it comes to meat.  He said if I start to throw up, can't get anything down, not even liquid, I need to call them to get it looked at (duh?)  He said it can happen, but if I chew really well and eat slowly, I should be fine.
    * My NEXT appointment is in 6 months..... WOW!  That means that I need to call in January 2007 to schedule my appointment for February 2007.  I'll be 6 months post-op!

I've also decided to take a picture of the scale whenever there is a significan't change....

Here is the one from an hour ago...

Its been exactly 3 weeks since I had surgery.  Its been very interesting, I only have 2 days out of 21 with regrets and those were days where I was in a lot of pain, and I wanted to eat greasy foods.  

Today I'm 30 lbs 'thinner' that the day before my surgery.  271.  I stepped on the scale twice to be sure it wasn't 'acting up'.  It wasn't.  Gave the same weight twice in a row.

I returned to work today and I was told by just about everybody that they can see my weightloss already.  

I can't see it, but then I look at myself everyday, while these people haven't seen me in a couple of weeks.

I've been without pain medication for 2 days now.  I didn't think the day would ever come honestly, but its here.  Its been a very long road already.

Hubby is reconsidering the surgery for himself.  He's been eating different since I had the surgery.  He's lost nearly 10 lbs himself!  

Once the muscle pain stops I will have to drag myself into a gym.  Right now I'm considering Bally's because they offer the month-to-month membership AND they have a pool!  I love swimming.

On Sunday I had my first PAINFUL dumping episode.  Was scary, thought I'd pass out on the toilet... won't eat that food again that I had an hour or so prior.

Still intolerant to dairy....

20lbs gone forever as of this afternoon.  11 days-20 lbs.  Nice.  

Its been difficult however, still having pain. 

Thank God I'm home.  Nothing went like it was supposed to go I think.  Rich is horrible in updating not to mention HORRIBLE in keeping a home.

NONE of the litterboxes have been cleaned (yes, it is disgusting and I'm going to make him do that here when he gets back from picking up my pain meds, the floors not mopped, cat pee in various spots (can you blame them?) and so on.  The list is loooooong, and I'm very angry with him right now, but I can't tell him as I don't want to make things worse between us. He's already in a bad mood and has been since before my surgery and its going downhill.  I know he has stress, not to mention that he hurt his hip when he tripped over the shopping baskets... but seriously, my house REEKS to high hell, its unsanitary and downright gross.  I wish I had someone clean up for me. I thought that leaving things in good order meant I' come to it in good order.

On Tuesday morning we got into an arguement as we pulled up to the hospital.  He was in a horrible mood again and I just had enough. I walked away from him and left him standing there.   I just couldn't deal with his moodiness anymore.

I was set up to go into surgery first.  The put the IV acess into my below crease, a BAD place to put a needle that is supposed to stay in for a few days.  But, the tech didn't care.

I woke up in ICU, in a lot of pain, and I was itching like heck.

My LISTED allergies are:
Vancomycin
Prednisilone
Cephalexin
Reglan

The medcation I got were Vancomicyn. I was in full allergy mode when I woke up, itching like heck, my BP racing upwards... and they gave me Benadryl.

Benadryl made me sleepy and out of it.

I was on a Pump to adjust my medicine needs as well, which was Morphine.  Well, it didn't work well because I fell asleep as soon as I woke up to get my pain under control because they were giving me Benadryl to stop the damn itching. Finally that was switched to Nubain.

It was horrible. I was 2 days in the ICU, a day longer than I should have because of the pain factor.
Imagine yourself having a pain pump, falling asleep when they give you Benadryl and you're waking up when you have intense pain.  Trying to control your pain, you get allergic again (I guess you can add Morphine to my allergies now) they giv e you allergy medication and you're out again.  It was horrible. I was in pain almost non-stop when I woke up.

Finally yesterday they transferred me to the regular floor.  Then they brought regular food in!  I can't have that and they bring turkey breast with green beans and gravy and ect... I didn't feel like eating it anyway, but I thought it was VERY inconsiderate.

Then last night I cried when I had to get up to go to the restroom.  I called the nurse and nothing happened.  So,  got up and I leaked yellow and red stuff all over the floor.  I cried because I had to make my way to the bathroom, but also because the drain was sooo much and nobody was there to help me or answer my questions.

I used the bathroom and sat back down, calling the nurse again and he finally came back there.  Changed my sheets, my shirt and re-packed me.  I felt a bit better, finally went to sleep.  I tried to call Rich, but he didn't answer his phone. Another point against him.

This morning my surgeon stops by and asked me if I wanted to go home today. I told him yes, I would, but I didn't understand why I was having all of these issues with pain, ect. especially in the lower abdomen.  My doc told me that I DO have more pain than usual, but that could be from the fact that they cut through the muscles and then stich them back up, and nerve endings can get irritated.  Also, he casually tells me, that they removed some of the scar tissue from my last surgeries and maybe that hurts?  Well DOH!  Why did he not tell me that they did this instead of casually mention it like its no big deal?

I am soooo angry.  I left the hospital at 1 pm, having had enough of everything. I will deal with Rich some other time, right now I am not in the mood to start an even bigger fight.

Here I am, drinking citrate of magnesia to 'clean me out'.  That stuff is HORRIBLE.  I'm wondering why they are doing this to me :)

I have a check in time of 6:30 tomorrow morning.  I think the surgery will be around 7:30-8:00.  I'm VERY nervous.  My BP was 150/82 today, shows that I was all nervous and anxious.  I know once I'm in there, things will go better.

I have to scrub with betadine tonight and tomorrow morning.  Sounds like fun.  I know it will be.

Went and bought a few more things to take to the hospital with me, such as a robe (no, hospitals don't have them in our size and I know I need to get up and move around, and I don't want to do that with my bootie hanging out), some shoes to wear on the floor that are non-skid as well and a new bag to take. The bag I currently have isn't made for this and not big enough to carry some things.  I took 2 pajama pants, 2 shirts and nightgown, just in case I can't wear the pajamas due to the entry wound.  Want to be prepared.

Now the count down is on.  In 14 hours I will be sitting in the waiting room waiting to be preped.  Almost here.

I went to Wal-Mart today to get some of the things I need for after the surgery.  I have to say there were a few seconds of thinking that I shouldn't do this, I won't be able to enjoy all of these foods anymore and so forth.  Off I went to the clothes section for 'normal' sized people.  Instantly I felt better knowing this is for the better.  I've decided that from now on, my husband will do the shopping though... at least until I'm better after the surgery and can do the grocery shopping.

I bought some of the high protein baby foods (Gerber 2).  No sugar in it.  What amazed me is that the other baby foods out there, that promote healthy eating and natural stuff for your baby has added sugar.  No wonder kids are becoming bigger.  Addicted to sugar and carbs at an early age!

Only 4 more days to go.... I'm excited, but also exhausted from this excitement.  Tomorrow is my last day at work.... Next week Friday I will be on my way home after the surgery.  Time flies.

I'm 36 years old, overweight through my childhood and early teens, then turned obese and finally morbid obese.  

Started the process for RNY in May of 2006 for a second time (I tried a year earlier, but it was impossible to fulfill the requirements at that point) and was approved June 21 by Dr. Wilcox.  I was extremely lucky that all of my appointments fell into place so quickly not to mention that I got my follow-up appointment right away due to a cancelled appointment.

It was tough waiting through July while Dr. Wilcox was on vacation and gone for training, but I received my surgery date August 3rd.  

I'm scheduled for August 15.  My new life begins.

June 2005 with my husband Richard


Me and one of our cats Abby. This was about 4 months ago


Taken 9 days prior to surgery