MBowman189
Surgery Just 2 Days Away!
Apr 18, 2011
Surgery Just 2 Days Away!
We’ll just two short days until our surgery date, so I thought I’d just post an update. Things have been so busy lately trying to get everything done around the place that I won’t be able to do after surgery, and making sure everything is ready for our return home from the hospital. I ordered our chewable vitamins, iron, and calcium citrate from Bariatric Advantage, and the order was delivered in less than 2 days, I was impressed. For vitamin C and B12 we’re using the ones purchased from Costco, and our Biotin from GNC. We also had to line up care for my 80 year old father that we care for, but everything is in place now for our recovery period.
The last 6 months seemed like such a long time, but the last 3 weeks just flew by. We had our appointment for a psychiatric evaluation on April 6th, which was a piece of cake. Her name was Sharon, she was about 5’ and weighed 102 lbs, and was really nice. Of course she covered all of the subjects she was required to ask, but also shared that she too had the RNY 3 years ago. She said she weighed 268 lbs, and now weighed 102 lbs, life was good, and she feels great. She was really nice to visit with, and after we were finished said that I was ready and felt I would do great.
There was a bit of a mix-up on our paperwork with the surgeons’ office, as we were told after our surgery consultation we’d be getting instructions in the mail, and there would be labs ordered the day before the appointment for the final check in. A week and a half had gone by, and still nothing, so I started calling and it was a good thing as I think our paperwork fell through the cracks. Well, the calls got things on track, and everything was scheduled just in time. We had our final labs on April 13th and the last appointment on April 14th with Dr Suh, where he did a final weigh in, which being on a no starch diet I’d lost another 9 lbs. This means that my highest weight last October was 335 lbs, and my surgery weight is officially 288.8 lbs, a loss of 46.2 lbs pre-surgery, which makes me feel good. Gerry’s highest weight last October was 237 lbs, and her surgery weight is officially 214 lbs, a loss of 23 lbs pre-surgery, which makes her feel good as well.
The same day we went to the Inland Valley Medical Center did a pre-check in with the hospital. There were some other last minute things we wanted to do, such as taking some last minute before photos, and take updated measurements. Our camera broke the day of the pre-check in, so I had to go buy another camera, and I’m learning how to use it. I’ll upload some photos tomorrow; of course I had to take a picture of our “last supper” this evening, as tomorrow is a liquid only day. So tomorrow is just protein drinks, broth, water, and crystal light. At 5:00 PM we’re to drink the Magnesium Citrate to flush us out, and stay within proximity of a restroom. Later in the evening we have to take showers and scrub our entire body from chin to toe with Hibiclens skin cleanser to kill all of the bacteria on our body, and repeat this in the morning before leaving for the hospital. We can’t have anything after midnight, and then only take my blood pressure medicine with a sip of water Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning we have to take all of our medicines we take with us for them to confirm dosages we take, and need to be at the hospital at 7:30 AM for Gerry’s surgery at 9:30 AM, and then I get prepped and go into surgery at 11:30 AM.
Both of us are really at ease with our decision to have the RNY and with the surgeon selected. It’s hard to believe in just two short days our lives will change forever, and we will be starting the next stage of our journey to a happier and healthier life together. We’re very thankful to so many people for the opportunity to have WLS, Kaiser had a lot of requirements for approval, but I wouldn’t change a thing. We learned last week at our support group that our Options class teacher Marianna Gabriel was leaving Kaiser Corona, and going back to practice outpatient services in Kaiser Irvine. We’re all really going to miss her and the support she provided to everyone.
In addition, both of us again want to thank you all for your support you’ve given us on this journey. Please say a prayer for us Wednesday morning for a safe uneventful surgery, and a speedy recovery.
Martin
