Lori Black

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I'm just cutting and pasting this here in case I need the info sometime in the future.  This is something important that I don't want to forget!


Oh yes -- I remember. But please keep in mind that internal hernias can occur spontaneously in anyone, and are a potential complication of ANY abdominal surgery -- gall bladder, appendectomy, exploratory laparoscopy -- anything. In particular, it has now been realized that as laparoscopic (as well as open) procedures are completed, the surgeon should CLOSE the holes left in the mesentary (which were disregarded as unimportant, as the mesentary is "just" connective tissue between the various abdominal organs) with a few stitches to prevent a loop of bowel from slipping through it later.

The biggest additional worry about internal hernias in weight loss surgery patients is a result of our peculiar anatomy -- in the RNY and DS procedures, the small bowel is divided into alimentary and non-alimentary tracts; while for the rest of the world, a differential diagnosis of internal hernia/intestinal blockage includes vomiting, and inability to pass stool or gas, we RNY/DS patients have a segment of intestine that IS NOT PART OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT! This means we could have a potentially fatal intestinal blockage in the part of the intestine that food does not pass through, and we may be able to eat, drink, poop and fart, which may cause a fatal delay in arriving at the proper diagnosis as our non-alimentary tract dies and poisons us internally. You and those who are part of your immediate family/significant others should know this (in case you are incapacitated/rendered unconscious by pain) so you or they can explain it to the ER staff -- it might be hours before your surgeon could be contacted to explain this, so you have to be responsible for conveying the information.

I'm pasting these recipes here so that I don't have to ask for them after surgery!  These look really yummy!

Cottage Cheese Fruit Salad

1 tub cool whip
1 box jello (berry blue goes well with the pineapple)
1 large container cottage cheese
1 can chopped pineapple


Ricotta Fruit Pie

1 1/2 lbs Fresh Ricotta Cheese (not the stuff in the containers)
1  tin drained Pineapple tidbits or crushed
1  handful or so of Raisins

I now add a few tablespoons of Splenda and some cinnamon.

Spray an 8x8 pan with Pam

Mash everything together right in the baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees about 40 minutes until the edges get a little brown.

I like this warm with SF Cool Whip
or
Cold with some SF pudding

Creamy Italian Chicken

3-6 boneless, skineless chicken breasts
1/2 to 1  cup water
1-2 envelopes Good Seasons Ital. Dressing mix
4-6 ounces cream cheese (I used to use the ff kind, now it wont matter!)
1 can sliced mushrooms

(let me start by saying for 3-4 brsts...1/2 cup water and one pkg mix will do along with the 4 oz of cream cheese...use the full cup water, 2 pks dressing mix and the 6 oz cream cheese for the 6 breasts)

Pour water and dressing mix into crockpot. Add the breasts and cook on low for 3 hours. Meanwhile, keep cream cheese out to soften to room temp. After 3 hours, remove the chicken and  add the cream cheese to the liquid. Mix well to melt and smooth out any lumps. Add the drained mushrooms and put the chicken back in. Let cook another hour or so.

I decided to paste this here to remind myself of how I felt when I saw the before pictures I had my daughter take of me today.  I'm shocked that I even posted it, (yep, stupid me posted it on the ds board)  but the reality of the pictures was SO intense for me, I had to get out my rant because of the frustration I was feeling!



My 5 year old took before pictures for me today so that I'd have them for my profile.  Now, I really do know that I'm fat, I wouldn't be having surgery if I didn't think I was....but the pictures are an all time low for me.  OMG!!!  I AM FAT!!!!  How did I ever let myself get this way??  I look in the mirror everyday when I'm getting ready and it doesn't seem as bad as the pictures she took.  When I tell people that I'm having WLS I always somehow think they're going to be shocked and wonder why in the world I would go to such an extreme, but instead most people have just asked a few questions about the DS and why I've chosen this surgery.  I don't need anyone to patronize me....but do you think maybe someone could just act shocked that I am having WLS??  Not yet one shocked look.  I'm sorry that I sound so self absorbed. I know that I sound silly, but I'm apparently in a fantasy world called denial...I think I'm your classic skinny girl stuck in a fat girl's body.  WOW....I can't even bring myself to post the pictures because  it's so bad.  Oh for pete's sake, I was a cheerleader once upon a time.  When did food become more important than my health? Now I'm just depressed.  Oh crap, now I just want to go out and buy some cookies and potato chips and veg on the couch when the kids go to bed.  I'm not really going to do it. but man the reality I'm living in right now just really sucks.  What a totally vicious cycle this is!  THANK GOODNESS that I have the DS light at the end of my tunnel.  I am so very ready for this surgery.

Thanks for listening to my rant, I hate it when I pick up my baseball bat and have at myself this way, sometimes it just can't be helped.  By the way...my monthly is due so I'm sure this has something to do with the way I'm feeling today.  

Sorry for being a big whiner!!!!
********************************************************************

I really have to get into a new mindset!  I really am genuinely excited about the potential weight loss I have to look forward to after my DS.  For me, these pictures were more of a reality check than stepping on the scale.   

My doctors office sent all of my paperwork for predetermination sometime 9 or 10 days ago, and as of last night, insurance doesn't have the info in their system yet.  I'm, of course, DYING to know what is happening, the waiting is KILLING ME!!  I just want the approval letter so that we can get the surgery date set.  The office manager at my Dr's office said Dr. Inman is scheduling out around 3 months...I want to be schedule at the first humanly possible moment that we know I'm approved!  (I'm sure I'm not alone on this one.....having a date will help me to prepare everything I need to get done for my dh and three kidos before I'm down and out for awhile).
For now I am trying to find peace in the fact that I now 100% know that I will be having the DS.  I'm so glad that I have done my research and chosen the best option for me.  I was pretty convinced that I would just do the RNY and that would be the end of it.  No one had ever told me about the DS, I stumbled upon it after asking a question on the main board, and one of the girls (I think it was LeaAnne) from the duodenal switch forum wrote to me and sent me a link to come over and check it out.  I had seen things about the procedure but somehow wrote it off thinking that it was an older surgery that wasn't being performed as much anymore.  I thank God every day that I found out that surgeons DO the duodenal switch and that it can offer me a very close to normal lifestyle.  And the best part, there is a surgeon 4 miles from my home that does the surgery.  Once I discovered Dr. Inman, I cancelled my consult with a diff. physician in the group and went to see what Dr. Inman thought was the best surgery for me.  We decided together that the DS would be a great option for me as I'm a big lover of red meat.  I told her I could live without the sweets, but the red meat was something I would REALLY miss!  

I'm just rambling so I'm going to stop here.  I hope that very soon I'll be blogging that my insurance company has sent my approval and that I have a date!  WOO HOO!! That will be an exciting day for me!

I just ran across this really great list of 50 things to do instead of eating and thought I'd post it here so I could refer back to it!  Although I don't know my DS date yet, I am thinking ahead and trying to start new habits before the surgery so that I have an easier haul post-op.  I am so blessed to have found this website along with a plethera of information on WLS all over the web.  I feel that I am making the best and most informed choice for myself and my family because I have had access to such great info! 

50 things to do instead of snacking....

1. Imagine the new healthier you
2. Walk around the block
3. Call a friend
4. Make a list of your Top Ten Reasons to Lose Weight
5. Make a To Do list
6. Turn on music and dance
7. Jot a thank you note to someone
8. Go to bed early or take a nap
9. Read a book
10. Blog or journal
11. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure
12. Plan a healthy meal for your family
13. Surf the Internet
14. Finish an unfinished project
15. Walk your dog, pet your cat, feed your fish
16. Brush your teeth
17. Balance your checkbook
18. Say a prayer
19. Chop veggies to keep on hand
20. Give a massage
21. Clean out a junk drawer
22. Play a game with your kids
23. Try a new route on your walk
24. Drink a glass of water 
25. Kiss someone
26. Try on some of your clothes
27. Look at old pictures
28. Rent a video
29. Wash your car
30. Take a hot, soothing bath
31. Update your calendar
32. Work in your yard
33. Start your holiday shopping list
34. Count your blessings
35. Write a letter
36. Fold some laundry
37. Check your e-mail
38. Give your dog a bath
39. Send a birthday card
40. Meditate
41. Hug someone
42. Rearrange some furniture
43. Light a fire or some candles
44. Put your pictures in an album
45. Plan a trip (real or imaginary)
46. Straighten a closet
47. Clean out a files
48. Visit a friend
49. Clean out your trunk
50. Do something nice for someone

I went to visit with Dr. Stote today at Carmel, St. V's....wow.  I went in knowing that I was looking at a three hour process, so I knew what to expect.  I had to answer some 600 questions, I'm sure most of you have done this.  I then had to spend the next GRUELING hour trying to explain WHY I have allowed myself to become fat.  The doctor was quite nice, the way he spoke at the end of the session I thought maybe he wasn't going to recommend surgery for me, but then he said that I was okay for surgery, if I go to 6 support groups.  Not a problem for me because I really liked the support group last week.  I'm sure I'll have plenty of time before my surgery is scheduled seeing as I have just begun this long journey!  The whole thing was actually pretty mentally exhasting trying to remember dates and things of my past.